Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/69

51 upon him and continue the Commander of the Faithful [on life!] And I gave myself up to pleasure and eating and drinking and took to myself friends and comrades and boon-companions. My mother used to forbid me from this and to blame me for it, but I would not hear a word from her, till my money was all gone, when I sold my lands and houses and nought was left me save the house in which I now dwell, and it is a goodly house, O Commander of the Faithful.

So I said to my mother, “I wish to sell the house.” “O my son,” answered she, “if thou sell it, thou wilt be dishonoured and wilt have no place wherein to take shelter.” Quoth I, “It is worth five thousand dinars, and with one thousand thereof I will buy me another house and trade with the rest.” “Wilt thou sell it to me at that price?” asked she; and I replied, “Yes.” Whereupon she went to a coffer and opening it, took out a porcelain vessel, wherein were five thousand dinars. When I saw this, meseemed the house was all gold and she said to me, “O my son, think not that this is of thy father’s good. By Allah, it was of my own father’s money and I have treasured it up against a time of need; for, in thy father’s time, I had no need of it.”

I took the money from her and fell again to feasting and merry-making with my friends, without heeding my mother’s words and admonitions, till the five thousand dinars came to an end, when I said to her, “I wish to sell the house.” “O my son,” answered she, “I forbade thee from selling it before, of my knowledge that thou hadst need of it; so how wilt thou sell it a second time?” Quoth I, “Do not multiply words upon me, for I must and will sell it.” “Then sell it to me for fifteen thousand dinars,” said she, “on condition that I take charge of thine affairs.” So I sold her the house at that price and gave up my affairs into her charge, whereupon she sought out