When we had been brought before the caliph, he ordered the ten highwaymen’s heads to be cut off immediately.  The executioner drew us up in a file within reach of his arm, and by good fortune I was placed last.  He cut off the heads of the ten highwaymen, beginning at the first; and when he came to me, he stopped.  The caliph perceiving that he did not strike me, grew angry:  “Did not I command thee,” said he, “to cut off the heads of ten highwaymen, and why hast thou cut off but nine?” “Commander of the faithful,” he replied, “Heaven preserve me from disobeying your majesty’s orders:  here are ten bodies upon the ground, and as many heads which I have cut off; your majesty may count them.”  When the caliph saw that what the executioner said was true, he looked at me with amazement, and perceiving that I had not the face of a highwayman, said to me, “Good old man, how came you to be among those wretches, who have deserved a thousand deaths?” I answered, “Commander of the faithful, I will make a true confession.  This morning I saw those ten persons, whose punishment is a proof of your majesty’s justice, take boat:  I embarked with them, thinking they were men going to celebrate this day, which is the most distinguished in our religion.”  The caliph could not forbear laughing at my adventure; and instead of treating me as a prattling fellow, as this lame young man did, he admired my discretion and taciturnity.  “Commander of the faithful,” I resumed, “your majesty need not wonder at my silence on such an occasion, as would have made another apt to speak.  I make a particular profession of holding my peace, and on that account have acquired the glorious title of Silent; by which I am distinguished from my six brothers.  This is the effect of my philosophy; and, in a word, in this virtue consists my glory and happiness.”  “I am glad,” said the caliph, smiling, “that they gave you a title which you know so well how to use.  But tell me what sort of men were your brothers, were they like you?” “By no means,” I replied; “they were all of them loquacious, prating fellows.  And as to their persons, there was still a greater difference betwixt them and me.  The first was hump-backed; the second had rotten teeth; the third had but one eye; the fourth was blind; the fifth had his ears cut off; and the sixth had hare-lips.  They had met with such adventures as would enable you to judge of their characters, had I the honour of relating them to your majesty:”  and the caliph seemed desirous to hear their several stories, I went on without waiting his commands.

The Story of the Barber’s Eldest Brother.