Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 4.djvu/153

129 it to such an one, for he hath more money and skill than I.’ So the Jew took it to the jeweller, who said, ‘It is worth threescore and ten thousand dirhems and no more.’ [sic] Then he paid him that sum and the Jew hired two porters to carry the money to his house. As he came to his door, a beggar accosted him, saying, ‘Give me of that which God the Most High hath given thee.’ Quoth the Jew, ‘But yesterday, we were even as thou; take half the money.’ So he made two parts of it, and each took his half. Then said the beggar, ‘Take back thy money and God prosper thee in it; I am a messenger, whom thy Lord hath sent to try thee.’ Quoth the Jew, ‘To God be the praise and the thanks!’ and abode with his family in all delight of life, till death. ABOU HASSAN EZ ZIYADI AND THE MAN FROM KHORASSAN.

Quoth Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi, ‘I was once in very needy case, and the baker and grocer and other purveyors importuned me, so that I was in sore straits and knew of no resource nor what to do. Things being thus, there came in to me one day one of my servants and said to me, “There is a man, a pilgrim, at the door, who seeks admission to thee.” Quoth I, “Admit him.” So he came in and behold, he was a native of Khorassan. We exchanged salutations and he said to me, “Art thou Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi?” “Yes,” answered I. “What is thy business?” Quoth he, “I am a stranger and am minded to make the pilgrimage; but I have with me a great sum of money, which is burdensome to me. So I wish to deposit with thee these ten thousand dirhems, whilst I make the pilgrimage and return. If the caravan return

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