Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/147

127 than before, said to the Persian, ‘O my lord, what is the name of this substance and where is it found and how is it made?’ But he laughed and said, ‘Of what dost thou question? Indeed, thou art an impertinent boy! Do and hold thy peace.’

So Hassan arose and fetching a [brass] bowl from the house, cut it up and threw it into the melting-pot; then he scattered on it a little of the powder and it became a lump of pure gold. When he saw this, he rejoiced mightily and was filled with amazement and could think of nothing but the gold; but, whilst he was occupied with taking up the ingot from the melting-pot, the Persian pulled out of his turban in haste a packet of Cretan henbane, which if an elephant smelt, he would sleep from night to night, and cutting off a little thereof, put it in a piece of sweetmeat. Then said he to Hassan, ‘O Hassan, thou art become my very son and dearer to me than my soul and my wealth and I have a daughter whose like never have eyes beheld for beauty and grace and symmetry. Now I see that thou befittest none but her and she none but thee; wherefore, if it be the will of God, I will marry thee to her.’ ‘I am thy servant,’ replied Hassan; ‘and whatsoever thou dost with me [of good] will be [credited to thee] with God the Most High.’ ‘O my son,’ rejoined the Persian, ‘have patience and good shall betide thee.’

Therewithal he gave him the piece of sweetmeat and he took it and kissed his hand, knowing not what was hidden for him in the future. Then he put it in his mouth, but hardly had he swallowed it, when he fell down, head foremost, and was lost to the world; whereupon the Persian rejoiced exceedingly and said, ‘Thou hast fallen into my snare, O good-for-nothing dog of the Arabs! This many a year have I sought thee, O Hassan, and now I have got thee!’ Then he girt himself and binding Hassan hand and foot, laid him in a chest, which he