Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/124

 and he answered, On the eastern side, under a pear-tree.  Then he called the other old man and asked him the same question, and he replied, On the western side of the garden, under an apple-tree.  Meanwhile the damsel stood by, with her hands and eyes raised heavenwards, imploring the Lord for deliverance. Then Allah Almighty sent down His blasting leven-fire upon the elders and consumed them, and on this wise the Lord made manifest the innocence of the damsel. Such was the first of the miracles of the Prophet Daniel, on whom be blessing and peace! And they relate a tale of JAAFAR THE BARMECIDE AND THE OLD BADAWL

The Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, went out one day, with Abu YaKúb the cup-companion [FN#140] and Jaafar the Barmecide and Abu Nowas, into the desert, where they fell in with an old man, propt against his ass. The Caliph bade Jaafar learn of him whence he came; so he asked him, Whence comest thou? and he answered, From Bassorah. -- And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Three Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night,

She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Jaafar asked the man, Whence comest thou?; he answered From Bassorah.  Quoth Jaafar, And whither goest thou?  Quoth the other, To Baghdad.  Then Jaafar enquired And what wilt thou do there? and the old man replied, I go to seek medicine for my eye.  Said the Caliph, O Jaafar, make thou sport with him, and answered Jaafar, I shall hear what I shall exceedingly mislike. [FN#141]  But Al-Rashid rejoined, I charge thee on my authority, jest with him.  Thereupon Jaafar said to the Badawi, If I prescribe thee a medicine that shall profit thee, what wilt thou give me in return?  Quoth the other, Allah