Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 3.djvu/352

322 wherein whoso looked might see the very image and presentment of the seven divisions of the world, and a chamber full of carbuncles, such as no words can suffice to set forth, many camel-loads. So he despatched all these things to Welid ben Abdulmelik, and the Arabs spread all over the cities of Spain, which is one of the finest of lands. This is the end of the story of the City of Lebtait. THE KHALIF HISHAM AND THE ARAB YOUTH.

The Khalif Hisham ben Abdulmelik ben Merwan was hunting one day, when he sighted an antelope and pursued it with his dogs. As he was following the chase, he saw an Arab youth pasturing sheep and said to him, ‘Ho, boy, up and stop yonder antelope, for it escapeth me!’ The youth raised his head and replied, ‘O ignorant of the worth of the worthy, thou lookest on me with disdain and speakest to me with contempt; thy speech is that of a tyrant and thy conduct that of an ass.’ ‘Out on thee,’ cried Hisham. ‘Dost thou not know me?’ ‘Verily,’ rejoined the youth, ‘thine unmannerliness hath made thee known to me, in that thou spokest to me, without beginning by the salutation.’ ‘Out on thee!’ repeated the Khalif. ‘I am Hisham ben Abdulmelik.’ ‘May God not favour thy dwellings,’ replied the Arab, ‘nor guard thine abiding-place! How many are thy words and how few thy generosities!’ Hardly had he spoken, when up came the troops from all sides and surrounded him, saying, ‘Peace be on thee, O Commander of the Faithful!’ Quoth Hisham, ‘Leave this talk and seize me yonder boy.’ So they laid hands on him; and when he saw the multitude