Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 8.djvu/312

300 said, ‘Whenever any one giveth me aught to dye, I sell it and spend the price.’ Quoth Abousir, ‘Is this permitted thee of God?’ ‘I only do this out of poverty,’ answered Aboukir, ‘because trade is dull with me and I am poor and have nothing.’ And he went on to complain to him of the slackness of his trade and his lack of means.

Abousir in like manner lamented the slackness of his own trade, saying, ‘I am a master of my craft and have not my equal in this city; but no one is shaved at my shop, because I am a poor man; and I loathe this craft, O my brother.’ ‘And I also,’ answered Aboukir, ‘loathe my own craft, by reason of its slackness; but, O my brother, what call is there for our abiding in this city? Let us depart from it and divert ourselves with foreign travel, carrying our crafts in our hands, the which are in demand in all countries; so shall we breathe the air and be rid of this grievous trouble.’ And he ceased not to commend travel to Abousir, till the latter became wishful to set out, whereat Aboukir rejoiced and recited the following verses:

Then they agreed to travel together and Aboukir said to Abousir, ‘O my neighbour, we are become brethren and there is no difference between us, so it behoves us to recite the first chapter of the Koran [in token of agreement] that he of us who gets work shall of his profit feed him who is out of work, and whatever is left, we will