Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 1.djvu/339

313 its whiteness.” My brother could see nothing and said to himself, “This man loves to jest with the folk.” So he replied, “O my lord, never in my life have I seen whiter or more delicious bread.” And the host said, “I gave five hundred dinars for the slave-girl who bakes it for me.” Then he called out, “Ho, boy! bring the frumenty first and do not spare butter on it.” And turning to my brother, “O my guest,” said he, “sawst thou ever aught better than this frumenty? Eat, I conjure thee, and be not ashamed!” Then he cried out again, “Ho, boy! bring in the pasty with the fatted grouse in it.” And he said to my brother, “Eat, O my guest, for thou art hungry and needest it.” So my brother began to move his jaws and make as if he chewed; whilst the other ceased not to call for dish after dish and press my brother to eat, though not a thing appeared. Presently, he cried out, “Ho, boy I bring us the chickens stuffed with pistachio-kernels!” And said to my brother, “These chickens have been fattened on pistachio-nuts; eat, for thou hast never tasted the like of them.” “O my lord,” replied my brother, “they are indeed excellent.” Then the host feigned to put his hand to my brother’s mouth, as if to feed him, and ceased not to name various dishes and expatiate upon their excellence. Meanwhile my brother was starving, and hunger was so sore on him that his soul lusted for a cake of barley bread. Quoth the Barmecide, “Didst thou ever taste aught more delicious than the seasoning of these dishes?” “Never, O my lord,” replied my brother. “Eat heartily and be not ashamed,” repeated the host. “O my lord,” said my brother, “I have had enough of meat.” So the Barmecide cried out, “Take away and bring the sweetmeats.” Then he said, “Eat of this almond conserve, for it is excellent, and of these fritters. My life on thee, take this one before the syrup runs out of it!” “May I never be bereaved of thee, O my lord!” replied my brother, and asked him of