第120章 NOUREDDIN ALI AND THE DAMSEL ENIS EL JELIS.(9)

So he took the cup and drank；and she filled him a third cupwhich he took and was about to drinkwhen beholdNoureddin opened his eyes and sitting upexclaimed'HelloGaffer Ibrahimwhat is this？ Did I not adjure thee just nowand thou refusedstsaying'I have not done such a thing these thirteen years'？'By Allah，'replied he （and indeed he was abashed）'it is her faultnot mine.'

Noureddin laughed and they sat down again to carousebut the damsel turned to Noureddin and whispered to him'O my lord，drink and do not press himand I will show thee some sport with him.'Then she began to fill her master's cup and he to fill to herand so they did time after timetill at last Ibrahim looked at them and said'What manner of good fellowship is this？ God's malison on the glutton who keeps the cup to himself！Why dost thou not give me to drinkO my brother？ What manners are these，O Blessed One！'At this they laughed till they fell backward；then they drank and gave him to drink and ceased not to carouse thustill a third part of the night was past. Then said the damsel'O Gaffer Ibrahimwith thy leaveI will light one of these candles.'Do so，'said he；'but light no more then one.'

So she rose and beginning with one candlelighted fourscore and sat down again. Presently Noureddin said'O Gaffer Ibrahimhow stands my favour with thee？ May I not light one of these lamps ？'

'Light one，'replied he'and plague me no more.'So Noureddin rose and lighted one lamp after anothertill he had lighted the whole eighty and the palace seemed to dance with light. Quoth Ibrahim （and indeed intoxication had mastered him）'Ye are more active than I.'Then he rose and opened all the windows and sat down again；and they fell to carousing and reciting versestill the place rang with their mirth.

Now as God the All-powerfulwho appointeth a cause to everythinghad decreedthe Khalif was at that moment seated at one of the windows of his palaceoverlooking the Tigrisin the light of the moon. He saw the lustre of the candles and lamps reflected in the river and lifting his eyesperceived that it came from the garden-palacewhich was in a blaze with light. So he called Jaafer the Barmecide and said to him'O dog of a Vizierhas the city of Baghdad been taken from me and thou hast not told me？'What words are these？'said Jaafer. 'If Baghdad were not taken from me，'rejoined the Khalif'the Pavilion of Pictures would not be illuminated with lamps and candlesnor would its windows be open. Out on thee！Who would dare to do this except the Khalifate were taken from me？'Quoth Jaafer （and indeed he trembled in every limb）'Who told thee that the pavilion was illuminated and the windows open？'Come hither and look，'replied the Khalif. So Jaafer came to the window and looking towards the gardensaw the pavilion flaming with light，in the darkness of the nightand thinking that this might be by the leave of the keeperfor some good reason of his ownwas minded to make an excuse for him. So he said'O Commander of the FaithfulGaffer Ibrahim said to me last week'O my lord Jaafer，I desire to circumcise my sons during thy life and that of the Commander of the Faithful.'What dost thou want？'asked I；and he said'Get me leave from the Khalif to hold the festival in the pavilion.'So I said to him'Gocircumcise themand I will see the Khalif and tell him.'So he went away and I forgot to tell thee.'O Jaafer，'said the Khalif'thou hast committed two offences against mefirstin that thou didst not tell me，secondlyin that thou didst not give the old man what he sought；

for he only came and told thee thisby way of hinting a request for some small matter of moneyto help him out with the expenses；and thou gavest him nothing nor toldest me.'O Commander of the Faithful，'replied Jaafer'I forgot.'By the virtue of my forefathers，'rejoined the Khalif'I will not pass the rest of the night but with himfor he is a pious manwho consorts with the elders of the faith and the fakirs： doubtless they are now assembled with him and it may be that the prayer of one of them may profit us both in this world and the next.

Besidesmy presence will advantage him and he will be pleased.'

'O Commander of the Faithful，'objected Jaafer'the night is far spentand they will now be about to break up.'It matters not，'

replied the Khalif；'I must and will go to them.'And Jaafer was silentbeing perplexed and knowing not what to do. Then the Khalif rose to his feet and taking with him Jaafer and Mesrour the eunuchthey all three disguised themselves as merchants and leaving the palacewalked on through the by-streets till they came to the garden. The Khalif went up to the gate and finding it openwas surprised and said to the Vizier'LookJaaferhow Gaffer Ibrahim has left the gate open to this hourcontrary to his wont！'They entered and walked on till they came under the pavilionwhen the Khalif said'O JaaferI wish to look in upon them privily before I join themthat I may see what they are aboutfor up to now I hear no sound nor any fakir naming

God.'Then he looked about and seeing a tall walnut-treesaid to Jaafer'I will climb this treefor its branches come near the windowsand so look in upon them.'So he mounted the tree and climbed from branch to branchtill he reached a bough that came up to one of the windows. On this he seated himself and looking in at the windowsaw a young lady and a young man as they were two moons （glory be to Him who created them and fashioned them！），and by them Gaffer Ibrahim seatedwith a cup in his hand，saying'O princess of fair onesdrink without music is nothing worth；indeed I have heard a poet say：

Pass round the wine in the great and the small cup tooAnd take the bowl from the hands of the shining moon.

But without musicI charge youforbear to drinkFor sure I see even horses drink to a whistled tune.'