Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 3.djvu/246

224 THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.

“When I [returned from my sixth voyage, I] forswore travel and renounced commerce, saying in myself, ‘What hath befallen me sufficeth me.’ So I abode at home and passed my time in pleasance and delight, till, one day, as I sat at mine ease, plying the wine-cup [with my friends], there came a knocking at the door. The doorkeeper opened and found without one of the Khalif’s pages, who came in to me and said, ‘The Commander of the Faithful biddeth thee to him.’ So I accompanied him to the presence of the Khalif and kissing the earth before him, saluted him. He bade me welcome and entreated me with honour and said to me, ‘O Sindbad, I have an occasion with thee, which I would have thee accomplish for me.’ So I kissed his hand and said, ‘O my lord, what is the lord’s occasion with the slave?’ Quoth he, ‘I would have thee go to the King of Serendib and carry him our letter and our present, even as he sent us a present and a letter.’