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with my new master, who bought me with all he owned?" He replied, "O
my lady, I gave him a thousand golden dinars,' and related to her

Khalifah's history from first to last, whereat she laughed and said:
"Blame him not, for he is but a common wight. These other thousand

dinars are a gift from me to him, and Almighty Allah willing, he shall
win of the Caliph what shall enrich him."

As they were talking, there came a eunuch from the Commander of
the Faithful in quest of Kut al-Kulub, for when he knew that she was

in the house of Ibn al-Kirnas, he could not endure, the severance, but
bade bring her forthwith. So she repaired to the Palace, taking

Khalifah with her, and going into the presence, kissed ground before
the Caliph, who rose to her, saluting and welcoming her, and asked her

how she had fared with him who had brought her. She replied: "He is
a man, Khalifah the fisherman hight, and there he standeth at the

door. He telleth me that he hath an account to settle with the
Commander of the Faithful, by reason of a partnership" target="_blank" title="n.合伙关系">partnership between him

and the Caliph in fishing." Asked Al-Rashid, "Is he at the door?"
and she answered, "Yes." So the Caliph sent for him and he kissed

ground before him and wished him endurance of glory and prosperity.
The Caliph marveled at him and laughed at him, and said to him, "O

Fisherman, wast thou in very deed my partner yesterday?" Khalifah took
his meaning, and heartening his heart and summoning spirit, replied:

"By Him who bestowed upon thee the succession to thy cousin, I know
her not in anywise and have had no commerce with her save by way of

sight and speech!"
Then he repeated to him all that had befallen him since he last

saw him, whereat the Caliph laughed and his breast broadened and he
said to Khalifah, "Ask of us what thou wilt, O thou who bringest to

owners their own!" But he was silent, so the Caliph ordered him
fifty thousand dinars of gold and a costly dress of honor such as

great sovereigns don, and a she-mule, and gave him black slaves of the
Sudan to serve him, so that he became as he were one of the kings of

that time. The Caliph was rejoiced at the recovery of his favorite and
knew that all this was the doing of his cousin-wife, the Lady

Zubaydah, wherefore he, was sore enraged against her and held aloof
from her a great while, visiting her not, neither inclining to

pardon her. When she was certified of this, she was sore concerned for
his wrath, and her face, that was wont to be rosy, waxed pale and

wan till, when her patience was exhausted, she sent a letter to her
cousin, the Commander of the Faithful, making her excuses to him and

confessing her offenses, and ending with these verses:
I long once more the love that was between us to regain,

That I may quench the fire of grief and bate the force of bane.
O lord of me, have ruth upon the stress my passion deals,

Enough to me is what you doled of sorrow and of pain.
'Tis life to me an deign you keep the troth you deigned to plight,

'Tis death to me an troth you break and fondest vows profane.
Given I've sinned a sorry sin, yet grant me ruth, for naught,

By Allah, sweeter is than friend who is of pardon fain.
When the Lady Zubaydah's letter reached the Caliph, and reading it, he

saw that she confessed her offense and sent her excuses to him
therefor, he said to himself, "Verily, all sins doth Allah

forgive-aye, Gracious, Merciful is He!" And he returned her an
answer expressing satisfaction and pardon and forgiveness for what was

past, whereat she rejoiced greatly.
As for Khalifah the fisherman, the Caliph assigned him a monthly

solde of fifty dinars, and took him into especial favor, which would
lead to rank and dignity, honor and worship. Then he kissed ground

before the Commander of the Faithful and went forth with stately gait.
When he came to the door, the eunuch Sandal, who had given him the

hundred dinars, saw him, and knowing him, said to him, "O Fisherman,
whence all this?" So he told him all that had befallen him, first

and last, whereat Sandal rejoiced, because he had been the cause of
his enrichment, and said to him, "Wilt thou not give me largess of

this wealth which is now become thine?" So Khalifah put hand to
pouch and taking out a purse containing a thousand dinars, gave it

to the eunuch, who said, "Keep thy coins, and Allah bless thee
therein!" and marveled at his manliness and at the liberality of his

soul, for all his late poverty.
Then, leaving the eunuch, Khalifah mounted his she-mule and rode,

with the slaves' hands on her crupper, till he came to his lodging
at the khan, whilst the folk stared at him in surprise for that

which had betided him of advancement. When he alighted from his beast,
they accosted him and inquired the cause of his change from poverty to

prosperity, and he told them an that had happened to him from incept
to conclusion. Then he bought a fine mansion and laid out thereon much

money, till it was perfect in all points. And he took up his abode
therein and was wont to recite thereon these two couplets:

Behold a house that's like the Dwelling of Delight,
Its aspect heals the sick and banishes despite.

Its sojourn for the great and wise appointed is,
And Fortune fair therein abideth day and night.

Then, as soon as he was settled in his house, he sought him in
marriage the daughter of one of the chief men of the city, a

handsome girl, and went in unto her and led a life of solace and
satisfaction, joyaunce and enjoyment; and he rose to passing affluence

and exceedingprosperity. So when he found himself in this fortunate
condition, he offered up thanks to Allah (extolled and excelled be

He!) for what He had bestowed on him of wealthexceeding and of favors
ever succeeding, praising his Lord with the praise of the grateful.

And thereafter Khalifah continued to pay frequent visits to the Caliph
Harun al-Rashid, with whom he found acceptance and who ceased not to

overwhelm him with boons and bounty. And he abode in the enjoyment
of the utmost honor and happiness and joy and gladness, and in

riches more than sufficing and in rank ever rising- brief, a sweet
life and a savory, pure as pleasurable, till there came to him die

Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer of societies. And extolled be
the perfection of Him to whom belong glory and permanence and He is

the Living, the Eternal, who shall never die!
And amongst the tales they, tell is one of




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