Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/111

 to each of them, bidding her send me her morning-meal in the garden. So they sent me each of her furniture and the surplus of her meat and drink: and every day each sendeth me a dish of meat and another of cooling marinades, also a platter of fruits and a bowl of sweetmeats and a jar of sherbet. This is my noon-day dinner, nor have I added aught thereto for thee.  Then the Commander of the Faithful, Al-Hakim bi-Amrillah prostrated himself in thanksgiving to the Almighty (extolled and exalted be His name!) and said, Praise be Allah, who hath been so bountiful to one of our lieges, that he entertaineth the Caliph and his host, without making ready for them; nay, he feedeth them with the surplusage of his days provision!  Then he sent for all the dirhams in the treasury, that had been struck that year (and they were in number three thousand and seven hundred thousand); nor did he mount until the money came, when he gave it to the merchant, saying, Use this as thy state may require; and thy generosity deserveth more than this.  Then he took horse and rode away. And I have heard a story concerning

KING KISRA ANUSHIRWAN [FN#124] AND THE VILLAGE DAMSEL

The Just King, Kisrá Anúshirwán, one day rode forth to the chase and, in pursuit of a deer, became separated from his suite. Presently, he caught sight of a hamlet near hand and being sore athirst, he made for it and presenting himself at the door of a house that lay by the wayside, asked for a draught of water. So a damsel came out and looked at him; then, going back into the house, pressed the juice from a single sugar-cane into a bowl and mixed it with water; after which she strewed on the top some scented stuff, as it were dust, and carried it to the King. Thereupon he seeing in it what resembled dust, drank it, little by little, till he came to the end; when said he to her, O damsel, the drink is good, and how sweet it had been but for this dust in it