Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 1.djvu/245

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The Sultan smiled and signed to him to sit down. So he sat down beside the Vizier, and the King enquired his name. Quoth Bedreddin, “The meanest of thy slaves is known as Bedreddin Hassan of Bassora, who prays for thee day and night.” The Sultan was pleased at his words and being minded to try him and prove his knowledge and good-breeding, said to him, “Dost thou remember any verses in praise of a mole on the cheek?” “Yes,” replied Bedreddin, and repeated the following:

The Sultan liked these verses and said, “Let us have some more. Heaven bless thy sire! May thy tongue never tire!” So he repeated the following:

The Sultan shook with delight and said to him, “More! God bless thy life!” So he repeated the following:

Then said the King, “Thou hast done well, O Hassan, and hast acquitted thyself most excellently. But tell me how many meanings hath the word khal in the Arabic language.” “Fifty,” replied Hassan, “and some say