Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 4.djvu/262



With flaky form in varying colours spread On the round pastry cake of household bread! Heaven sent us that kabob! For no one could (Save heaven he should rob) Produce a thing so excellently good, Or give us roasted meat With basting oil so savourily replete!

But, oh! mine appetite, alas! for thee! Who on that furmeaty So sharpset west a little while ago— That furmeaty, which mashed by hands of snow, A light reflection bore, Of the bright bracelets that those fair hands wore; Again remembrance glads my sense With visions of its excellence!

Again I see the cloth unrolled Rich worked in many a varied fold! Be patient, oh! my soul, they say Fortune rules all that's new and strange, And though she pinches us to day, To-morrow brings full rations, and a change!'

Then said Jubayr, 'Put forth thy hand to our food and ease our heart by eating of our victual.' Answered I, 'By Allah, I will not eat a mouthful, till thou grant me my desire.' He asked, 'What is thy desire?'; so I brought out the letter and gave it to him; but, when he had read it and mastered its contents, he tore it in pieces and throwing it on the floor, said to me, 'O Ibn Mansur, I will grant thee whatever thou askest save thy desire which concerneth the writer of this letter, for I have no answer to her.' At this I rose in anger; but he caught hold of my skirts, saying, 'O Ibn Mansur, I will tell thee what she said to thee, albeit I was not present with you.' I asked, 'And what did she say to me?'; and he answered, 'Did not the writer of this letter say to thee, If thou bring me back an answer, thou shalt have of me five hundred ducats; and if not, an hundred for thy pains?' 'Yes,' replied I; and he rejoined, 'Abide with me this day and eat and drink and enjoy thyself and make merry, and thou shalt have thy five hundred ducats.' So I sat with him and ate and drank and made merry