Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/189

163 she charged me straitly to beat them [and disappeared]. When the day came, it being grievous to me to put fetters of iron on their necks, I went to a goldsmith and bade him make them collars and chains of gold. He did this and I put the collars on their necks and chained them up, as she bade me; and next night I beat them in mine own despite. This befell in the Khalifate of El Mehdi, third of the sons of Abbas, and I ingratiated myself with him by sending him presents, wherefore he invested me with the government and made me viceroy of Bassora.

On this wise I abode some time and after awhile, I said in myself, “It may be her wrath is grown cool;” and left them a night unbeaten, whereupon she came to me and gave me a beating the pain whereof I shall never forget so long as I live. So, from that time to this, I have never left them a single night unbeaten; and when El Mehdi died and thou camest to the throne, thou sentest to me, confirming me in the government of Bassora. These twelve years past have I beaten them every night, against my will, and after I have beaten them, I excuse myself to them and comfort them and give them to eat and drink; and they have remained shut up, nor did any of the creatures of God know of them, till thou sentest Abou Ishac the boon-companion to me, on account of the tribute, and he discovered my secret and returning to thee, acquainted thee therewith. Then thou sentest him back to fetch me and them; so I answered with “hearkening and obedience” and brought them before thee, whereupon thou questionedst me and I told thee the truth of the case; and this is my history.’

The Khalif marvelled at the case of the two dogs and said to Abdallah, ‘Hast thou now forgiven thy two brothers the wrong they did thee, ay or no?’ ‘O my lord,’ answered he, ‘may God forgive them and acquit them