Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 1.djvu/73

 EL HEJJAJ AND THE THREE YOUNG MEN.

They tell that El Hejjaj once commanded the Master of Police [of Bassora] to go round about [the city] by night, and whomsoever he found [abroad] after nightfall, that he should strike off his head. So he went round one night of the nights and came upon three youths staggering from side to side, and on them signs of [intoxication with] wine. So the officers laid hold of them and the captain of the watch said to them, “Who are ye that ye transgress the commandment of the [lieutenant of the] Commander of the Faithful and come abroad at this hour?” Quoth one of the youths, “I am the son of him to whom [all] necks abase themselves, alike the nose-pierced of them and the [bone-]breaker; they come to him in their own despite, abject and submissive, and he taketh of their wealth and of their blood.”

The master of police held his hand from him, saying, “Belike he is of the kinsmen of the Commander of the Faithful,” and said to the second, “Who art thou?”