Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 1.djvu/35

15 gave it to his host and said to him, “My life on thee, O my brother, drink this cup from my hand!” “Ay, by thy life,” answered Aboulhusn, “I will drink it from thy hand.” So he took it and drank it off; but hardly had he done so, when his head forewent his feet and he fell to the ground like a slain man; whereupon the Khalif went out and said to his servant Mesrour, “Go in to yonder young man, the master of the house, and take him up and bring him to me at the palace; and when thou goest out, shut the door.”

So saying, he went away, whilst Mesrour entered and taking up Aboulhusn, shut the door after him, and followed his master, till he reached the palace, what while the night drew to an end and the cocks cried out, and set him down before the Commander of the Faithful, who laughed at him. Then he sent for Jaafer the Barmecide and when he came before him, he said to him, “Note this young man and when thou seest him to-morrow seated in my place of estate and on the throne of my Khalifate and clad in my habit, stand thou in attendance upon him and enjoin the Amirs and grandees and the people of my household and the officers of my realm to do the like and obey him in that which he shall command them; and thou, if he bespeak thee of anything, do it and hearken unto him and gainsay him not in aught in this coming day.” Jaafer answered with, “Hearkening and obedience,” and withdrew, whilst the Khalif went in to