of it.”  Having spoken thus, he stretched out his hand as if he had had a piece of lamb in it, and putting it to my brother’s mouth, “There,” said he, “swallow that, and you will judge whether I had not reason to boast of this dish.”  My brother thrust out his head, opened his mouth, and made as if he took the piece of lamb, and eat it with extreme pleasure.  “I knew you would like it,” said the Barmecide.  “There is nothing in the world finer,” replied my brother; “your table is most delicious.”  “Come, bring the ragout; I fancy you will like that as well as you did the lamb:  Well, how do you relish it?” “O! it is wonderful,” replied Schacabac; “for here we taste all at once, amber, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, pepper, and the most odoriferous herbs, and all these delicacies are so well mixed, that one does not prevent our tasting the other.”  “How pleasant!  Honour this ragout,” said the Barmecide, “by eating heartily of it.  Ho, boy, bring us another ragout.”  “No, my lord, if it please you,” replied my brother, “for indeed I can eat no more.”

“Come, take away then,” said the Barmecide, “and bring the fruit.”  He stayed a moment as it were to give time for his servants to carry away; after which, he addressed my brother, “Taste these almonds, they are good and fresh gathered.”  Both of them made as if they had peeled the almonds, and eaten them; after this, the Barmecide invited my brother to eat something else.  “Look,” said he, “there are all sorts of fruits, cakes, dry sweetmeats, and conserves, take what you like;” then stretching out his hand, as if he had reached my brother something, “Look,” he continued, “there is a lozenge, very good for digestion.”  Schacabac made as if he ate it, and said, “My lord, there is no want of musk here.”  “These lozenges,” replied the Barmecide, “are made at my own house, where nothing is wanting to make every article good.”  He still bade my brother eat, and said to him, “Methinks you do not eat as if you had been so hungry as you complained you were when you came in.”  “My lord,” replied Schacabac, whose jaws ached with moving and having nothing to eat, “I assure you I am so full that I cannot eat one bit more.”

“Well, then, friend,” resumed the Barmecide, “we must drink now, after we have eaten so well.”  “You may drink wine, my lord,” replied my brother, “but I will drink none if you please, because I am forbidden.”  “You are too scrupulous,” rejoined the Barmecide; “do as I do.”  “I will drink then out of complaisance,” said Schacabac, “for I see you will have nothing wanting to make your treat complete; but since I am not accustomed to drink wine, I am afraid I shall commit some error in point of good breeding, and contrary to the respect that is due to you; therefore I pray you, once more, to excuse me from drinking any wine; I will be content with water.”  “No, no,” said the Barmecide, “you shall drink wine,” and at the same time he commanded some to be brought, in the same manner as the meat and fruit had been served before.