Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/46

30 Khorassan and is come back.’ And he abode with him in all honour and worship three days’ space. On the fourth day, Er Razi said to him, ‘Know, O my brother, that I purpose to do somewhat.’ ‘What is it?’ asked El Merouzi. Quoth the other, ‘I mean to feign myself dead and do thou go to the market and hire two porters and a bier. [Then come back and take me up and go round about the streets and markets with me and collect alms on my account.]’

Accordingly El Merouzi repaired to the market and fetching that which he sought, returned to Er Razi’s house, where he found the latter cast down in the vestibule, with his beard tied and his eyes shut; and indeed, his colour was paled and his belly blown out and his limbs relaxed. So he deemed him in truth dead and shook him; but he spoke not; and he took a knife and pricked him in the legs, but he stirred not. Then said Er Razi, ‘What is this, O fool?’ And El Merouzi answered, ‘Methought thou wast dead in very sooth.’ Quoth Er Razi, ‘Get thee to seriousness and leave jesting.’ So he took him up and went with him to the market and collected [alms] for him that day till eventide, when he carried him back to his lodging and waited till the morrow.

Next morning, he again took up the bier and went