Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 3.djvu/357

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When the barber heard this, exceeding delight took possession of him and he was of great good cheer; (for it is said that when Ibrahim’s neighbours heard him [but] say, “Ho, boy, saddle the mule!” they were filled with delight). Then, being overborne by mirth, he said to me (continues Ibrahim), “O my lord, wilt thou give me leave to say what is come to my mind, for all I am not of the folk of the craft?” “Do so,” answered I; “this is of thy great courtesy and kindness.” So he took the lute and sang the following verses:

“Thou hast acquitted thee rarely, O my friend,” said I, “and hast done away from me the pangs of sorrow. Let me hear more trifles of thy fashion.” So he sang these verses:

So a man’s honour be unstained and free of all impair, Lo, every garment that he dights on him is fit and fair. She taunted me, because, forsooth, our numbers were but few; But I “The noble,” answer made, “are ever few and rare.” It irks us nought that we are few and eke our neighbour great, For all the neighbours of most folk are scant and mean elsewhere; For we’re a folk, that deem not death an evil nor reproach, Albeit Aamir and Seloul so deem, of their despair.