The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-22
7 life i'm dbe SMlfam'G Barea11. J.
Sir Edwin Arnold Finds Parallel to Modern
Incident in "A Thousand and One Nights"


khalif, who loved nothing better than a
fine voice and graceful recitation, ad-
mitted him more than once to the royal
supper table to eat and drink and to
make Arabic verses. So the shop Of AbuI-
HaSsan was in natural course always full
of well bred young men. sons of emirs and
dignataries, and of ladies also, come to
buy goods and ornaments in their wells,
wives of mobiles and chamberlains.
One of the most frequent attendants
there was young sir of good birth and
of handsome face and FORM Ali Ben
Bekar. It was commonly given out that
he had royal blood in his veins. OF a
charming carriage, his cheeks were bright
and fresh as rose leaves, his eyebrows
arched like bows, his teeth as white as
pearls, and his speech gentle and meio-
dious. He was, moreover, poet, and
no mean one.
One day when this young man was seat
ed in the shop beside his friend, the mer-
chant, chatting and laughing, they saw
arrive at the door ten yelled young Ia
dies, beautiful in shape as is the crescent
moon, surrounding an eleventh lady, who
was mounted on a mule harnessed with
stamped velvet housings and fittings of
gold. This eleventh lady was robed in
an izar of rose silk, fastened at the waist
by a silken girdle, bordered with gold five
fingers broad and studded with large
pearls and other jewels. Her counte-
nance was partly hidden by a gauze veil,
through which, however, her eyes
sparkled like stars. Her hands were Of
the delicious color and softness of the
ostrich egg, and her henna-dyed fingers,
loaded with diamonds. were as if carved
out of sea shells. Her form and figure
gave to the eye vision of faultless love-
illness.
Not being shy In -Hassan's shop,
the lovely creature raised her veil little,
the better to see the goods displayed But
no sooner did the young poet Ali Ben
Betar, catch sight of that lovely visage
than he was flied with an admiration,
with a passion never before experienced.
Out of decorum he had risen upon her en-
trance as though to depart, but the beau
tifuI lady had upon her side noted his
grace and charm, and had shared his sud
den and irresistible emotion, SO that she
said to the merchant, with an adorable
accent at the same time sweetly smiling.
Let me not be the cause of the de-
parture of any of thy customers. / pray
thee to invite this young man to remain.
Words so gracious enchanted the ears of
Ali Ben-Bekar. Obliged to say something,
he bowed low and murmured, by Allah,
OH lady Of all hearts! If L made to go it
was not alone from fear Of seeming bold,
came to my mind those lines of the poet:
Look'st thou with love on the Moon? She
dwelleth in heights beyond measure.
Think st thou to reach her with wings?
or that she will stoop from her state
there?
When the lady heard these lines repeat
ed in a tone of gentle despair, she was
| pleased with the deiicacy of the allusion,
and moved by the passionate air of the
poet. Thus twas that she cast on him a
long regard OF sympathy, and then MAX
ing sign for the merchant to approach
her, softly whispered: who is this young
man, and whence cometh he?"
HE is Ali Ben-Bekar." quoth the deal
er, "of a noble foreign race and IS as
honorable as he is handsome He is also
my dear friend"
Truly he doth please me-" she replied
See now, Abul-HasSan, il, after my de-
parture, / send one to bid thee and him
come together to the palace be not as
tonished! l would have him know that
| there are in Baghdad chambers as splen-
did, and ladies as courteous. and dancers
as skilled, and music as moving as any
in the land he coneth FROM" And the
! merchant said. .tBe 1t on mine eyes. and
on mine head"
On this the beautiful young lady repIac-
ed her veil with care, and went forth
from the shop, leaving behind her from
her garments the fragrance OF sandal
wood and jasmine.
All Ben Bekar for some time could not
sneak- hut at last he cried. "Ah, that