Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 1.djvu/316

292 My brother humbled himself to him; but he would not listen to him and carried him to the prefect, who gave him a hundred lashes with a whip and mounting him on a camel, paraded him about the city, whilst the folk proclaimed aloud, “This is the punishment of those who violate people’s harems!” Moreover, he fell off the camel and broke his leg and so became lame. Then the prefect banished him from the city and he went forth, not knowing whither to turn; but I heard of his mishap and going out after him, brought him back and took him to live with me.’ The Khalif laughed at my story and said, ‘Thou hast done well, O Silent One, O man of few words!’ and bade me take a present and go away. But I said, ‘I will take nothing except I tell thee what befell my other brothers: and do not think me a man of many words. Know, O Commander of the Faithful, that STORY OF THE BARBER’S SECOND BROTHER.

My second brother’s name was Becbac and he was the paralytic. One day, as he was going about his business, an old woman accosted him and said to him, “Harkye, stop a little, that I may tell thee of somewhat, which, if it please thee, thou shalt do for me.” My brother stopped and she went on, “I will put thee in the way of a certain thing, so thy words be not many.” “Say on,” replied my brother; and she, “What sayest thou to a handsome house and a pleasant garden, with running waters and fruits and wine and a fair-faced one to hold in thine arms from dark till dawn?” “And is all this in the world?” asked my brother. “Yes,” answered she; “and it shall be thine, so thou be reasonable and leave impertinent curiosity and many words and do as I bid thee.” “I will well, O my lady,” rejoined my brother; “but what made thee choose me of all men for this affair and what is it