nose-pierced of them and the breaker; they come to him in their own despite, abject and submissive, and he taketh of their wealth and of their blood.”  The Master of Police held his hand from him,, saying, “Belike he is of the kinsman of the Prince of True Believers,” and said to the second, “Who art thou?” Quoth he, “I am the son of him whose rank[FN#121] Time abaseth not, and if it be lowered one day, ’twill assuredly return to its former height; thou seest the folk crowd in troops to the light of his fire, some standing around it and some sitting.”  So the Chief of Police refrained from slaying him and asked the third, “Who art thou?” He answered, I am the son of him who plungeth through the ranks[FN#122] with his might and levelleth them with the sword, so that they stand straight; his feet are not loosed from the stirrup, whenas the horsemen on the day of the battle are a-weary.”  So the Master of the Police held his hand from him also, saying, “Belike, he is the son of a Brave of the Arabs.  Then he kept them under guard, and when the morning morrowed, he referred their case to Al-Hajjaj, who caused bring them before him and enquiring into their affair, when behold, the first was the son of a barber-surgeon, the second of a bean-seller, and the third of a weaver.  So he marvelled at their eloquent readiness of speech and said to the men of his assembly, “Teach your sons the rhetorical use of Arabic:[FN#123] for, by Allah, but for their ready wit, I had smitten off their heads!”

Harun al-Rashid and the woman of the
Barmecides[FN#124]

They tell[FN#125] that Harun Al-Rashid was sitting one day to abate grievances, when there came up to him a woman and said, “O Commander of the Faithful, may Allah perfect thy purpose and gladden thee in whatso He hath given thee and increase thee in elevation!  Indeed, thou hast done justice and wrought equitably.” [FN#126] Quoth the Caliph to those who were present with him, “Know ye what this one means by her saying?” and quoth they, “Of a surety, she meaneth not otherwise than well, O Prince of True Believers.”  Al-Rashid rejoined:  “Nay, in this she purposeth only to curse me.  As for her saying, ’Allah perfect thy purpose,’ she hath taken it from the saying of the poet,

’When thy purpose is effected beginneth its decay; * when they
     say ‘Thy wish is won’ feel thou sure ‘twill pass away.’

As for her saying ’Allah gladden thee in whatso He hath given thee,’ she took it from the saying of Almighty Allah,[FN#127] ’Till, whenas they were gladdened in that they were given, We suddenly laid hold of them and lo, they were in despair!’ As for her saying, ‘Allah increase thee in elevation!’ she took it from the saying of the poet:—­

’No flier flieth however tall * but as he flieth shall come to
     fall.’