Page:Sinbad the sailor & other stories from the Arabian nights.djvu/255

 having signed to the slave to bring me pen and ink, wrote upon it the following verse:

Having written this, I placed it before the King and arose, and seated myself at a little distance. But when he had read it, his face was distressed with wonder. "This surpasseth all," said he. "How can an ape possess such skill in the writing and rounding of a verse? And he was overcome with astonishment. He motioned me to approach him, and said, "Thou art a wonderful ape: drink to me in this my favourite liquor!" And he handed me his cup. I took it and drank, and as soon as I felt the warm impulse of the liquor I was quickened in my inspiration, and wrote upon the cup:

The King took the cup, and read what I had written. "By Allah!" he exclaimed. "Find me the man who hath the skill of this ape!"

Still wondering greatly as to the extent of my learning and intelligence, the King called for a chessboard; and, setting it before me, questioned me by signs as to whether I understood the game. By way of assent, I kissed the ground, and humbly seated myself before the board. Now my name, as a chessplayer, had gone forth through all lands, but it still remained for me, as an ape, to justify that name. Solemn and silent we sat at the board—the King of a vast territory matching 179