Page:Three crump twin brothers of Damascus (1).pdf/15

Rh with me; but you must lend us a hand. That man had received too great marks of the Caliph's liberality to make the least scruple of obeying him; the Viziar and he took the one Ibad, and the other Syahouk by the feet, and threw them on their shoulders; and the Caliph himself having shouldered the lack in which was Babekan they turn- ed back to go to the palace, when they met the porter, who had a few moments before, thrown the three brothers into the Tygris.

As Watik-billah was dropping wet with the water that ran out of the sack, he stopped the porter and having forced him to ease him of his burden, he conducted him to a house which adjoined to his palace. There it was, that the porter of Bagdad, having by the words he spoke relating to the three crumps, excited the Caliph a curiosity, he desired him to explain himself more clearly upon so whimsicle an adventure. Sir, replied the porter, this explanation you required is not so easily made as you imagine. The more I think of it, the less understand it: however, you shall have it just as I think it happened to me.

Do you know, sir, said the porter, the cutler's wife that lives at the end of the street of the jewellers? No, replied the Caliph. You are no great lesser by the bargain, answered the porter; she is the mischievous jade in all Bagdad: I would willingly give the two sequins sm master of to have five or six steps at her foul chops, for the trick the witch put upon me this night though I am but poor, should sleep the better for it. This cutler woman then- But stay, since you do not know her, I will draw you her picture. Imagine, sir, that you have before your eyes a great withered old woman, with a skin as black as a dried