Evening star., 1920-01-25

Upon hearing these words, ana op-
serving the richness of the negro's
apparel, ! perceived that those reports
which had come to me. respecting
Ahzab's wealth, were no more than
true, and l spoke thus to myself:
within the vilest heart may bloom
the flower of brotherly affection. All
zab desires to share with me, the most
enlightened of his family. this good
fortune which hath befallen him"
Accordingly. shut up my shop, dis
missing the one who waited to be
shaved, and followed the black to the
Khan Khalil, where were the shops
of the wealthy silk merchants. My
brother received me affectionately,
embracing me and saying:
30 Es-Samit. ever have l loved thee
Lo! Thou growest more like myself
each year. Save that thou art more
dignified and noble. Enter into this
private apartment with me, for it is
important that no one shall see thee"
Much surprised at his words, / fol-
lowed him to an elegant apartment
above the shop, and there he ordered
the servants to roast a lamb and to
bring us fruit and wine, and while
we thus pleasantly employed our
selves, he unfolded to me his case.
Know. O my brother, that l have
accumulated great wealth; and this I
nave done by observing those wise
precepts of conduct laid down by thee.
BY the charm of my speech which l
have fashioned upon thine, and the
elegance of my manner, in which |
have, though poorly, initiated thine
own. and by the dignity and the mod
esty OF my conduct, I have endeared
all hearts and am esteemed above all
the other merchants in Cairo.
1T is necessary that repair to
Damascus, and during my absence /
wish nothing better than that thou
shouldst take my place here. This will
pe favorable to both of us: for I will
reward thy services with five hundred
piastres and an interest in my affairs,
ana thou wilt pass for me; for all will
say. Lo! Ahzab, the merchant, wakes
more handsome each day such is the
benign influence of righteous pros
perity and conscious rectitude. NV
affairs stand thus and thus. and NV
steward, who will be in our conf
oences' VIII acquaint thee with all
matters necessary. Thou wilt wear
my costly garments, and sit in NV
shop. Each evening thou wilt secretly
repair to thine own abode"
upon nearing those words, my bos-
ON swelled with joy; for 1 observed
that Ahzab had not failed to perceive
my exalted qualities. We sat far into
'he h1ght In conversation respecting
our plans; and on the following day
Ahzab having departed secretly for
Damascus. 1 repaired to his shop, as
arranged, and took my seat there.
by the number of the persons who
saiuted me, and by the manner of
their speech, l perceived more and
more, the great prosperity of nv
brother; and being of thoughtful
mind, passed the days very pleas
antly In contemplation of my good
fortune.
Upon the fourth day after the de-
'~- ~ any UIO OtHcT, dS i sat III his
snop, there came past a damsel ac-
companied by female attendants. This
damsel was riding upon a mule with
richly embroidered saddle, with stir
rups of gold, and she was covered
with an izar of exquisite fabric, and
about her slender waist was a girdIe
Of gold-embroidered silk. was
stricken speechless with the beauty
and elegance of her form; and when
she alighted and came into the shop.
the odors Of sweet perfumes were diff
fused from her. and she captivated
my reason by her loveliness.
Seating herself beside me, she raised
her izar. and beheld her black eyes,
and they surpassed in beauty the eyes
of all human beings, and We're like
the eyes of the gazelle. She had a
mouth like the seal of Suleyman. and
hair blacker than the night of afflic-
tion; forehead like the new moon
of Ramadan, and cheeks like ane-
mones, with lips fresher than rose
petals, teeth like pearls from the sea
of distraction, and a neck surprising
in whiteness molten silver, above a
form that put to shame the willow
branch.