Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 1.djvu/373

345 Quoth Ibrahim (and indeed intoxication had mastered him), ‘Ye are more active than I.’ Then he rose and opened all the windows and sat down again; and they fell to carousing and reciting verses, till the place rang with their mirth.

Now as God the All-powerful, who appointeth a cause to everything, had decreed, the Khalif was at that moment seated at one of the windows of his palace, overlooking the Tigris, in the light of the moon. He saw the lustre of the candles and lamps reflected in the river and lifting his eyes, perceived that it came from the garden-palace, which was in a blaze with light. So he called Jaafer the Barmecide and said to him, ‘O dog of a Vizier, has the city of Baghdad been taken from me and thou hast not told me?’ ‘What words are these?’ said Jaafer. ‘If Baghdad were not taken from me,’ rejoined the Khalif, ‘the Pavilion of Pictures would not be illuminated with lamps and candles, nor would its windows be open. Out on thee! Who would dare to do this except the Khalifate were taken from me?’ Quoth Jaafer (and indeed he trembled in every limb), ‘Who told thee that the pavilion was illuminated and the windows open?’ ‘Come hither and look,’ replied the Khalif. So Jaafer came to the window and looking towards the garden, saw the pavilion flaming with light, in the darkness of the night, and thinking that this might be by the leave of the keeper, for some good reason of his own, was minded to make an excuse for him. So he said, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, Gaffer Ibrahim said to me last week, “O my lord Jaafer, I desire to circumcise my sons during thy life and that of the Commander of the Faithful.” “What dost thou want?” asked I; and he said, “Get me leave from the Khalif to hold the festival in the pavilion.” So I said to him, “Go, circumcise them, and I will see the Khalif and tell him.” So he went away and I forgot to tell thee.’ ‘O Jaafer,’ said the Khalif, ‘thou