Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/110

 so she asked Abu Yusuf, O Imam of the Faith, which wouldst thou rather have of the two kinds of fruits, those that are here or those that are not here?  And he answered, Our code forbiddeth us to pronounce judgement on the absent; whenas they are present, we will give our decision.  So she let bring the two kinds of fruits before him; and he ate of both. Quoth she, What is the difference between them? and quoth he, As often as I think to praise one kind, the adversary putteth in its claim.  The Caliph laughed at his answer [FN#122] and made him a rich present; and Zubaydah also gave him what she had promised him, and he went away, rejoicing. See, then the virtues of this Imám and how his hands were manifest the truth and the innocence of the Lady Zubaydah. And amongst other stories is that of THE CALIPH AL-HAKIM [FN#123] AND THE MERCHANT

The Caliph Al-Hákim bi-Amrillah was riding out in state procession one day, when he passed along a garden, wherein he saw a man, surrounded by negro-slaves and eunuchs. He asked him for a draught of water, and the man gave him to drink, saying, Belike, the Commander of the Faithful will honour me by alighting in this my garden.  So the Caliph dismounted and with his suite entered the garden; whereupon the said man brought out to them an hundred rugs and an hundred leather mats and an hundred cushions; and set before them an hundred dishes of fruits, an hundred bowls of sweetmeats and an hundred jars of sugared sherbets; at which the Caliph marvelled with much amaze and said to his host, O man, verily this thy case is wondrous: didst thou know of our coming and make this preparation for us?  He replied, No by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I knew not of thy coming and I am a merchant of the rest of thy subjects; but I have an hundred concubines; so, when the Commander of the Faithful honoured me by alighting with me, I sent