THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS CHAPTER IX THE STORY OF 'ALI THE SON OF BEKKAR, AND SHEMS-EN-NAHAR THERE was, in ancient times, in the reign of the Khalifeh Harun Er-Rashid, a merchant who had a son named Abu-l-Hasan 'Ali the son of Tahir,1 possessing abundant property, of handsome person, beloved by every one who beheld him; and he used to enter the palace of the Khalifeh without permission; and all the concubines of the Khalifeh, and his other female slaves, loved him; and he used to keep company with the King, and recite verses to him, and relate to him strange anecdotes. But still he sold and bought in the market of the merchants; and there used to sit at his shop a young man of the sons of the Kings of the Persians, called 'Ali the son of Bekkar. 2 This young man was of handsome stature, of elegant shape, of perfect figure, with rosy cheeks, with joined eyebrows, sweet in speech, with laughing mouth, a lover of merriment and gaiety. And it happened that they were both sitting talking together and laughing, when, lo, there came ten female slaves, like moons, and each of them was VOL. II. I B endowed with beauty and loveliness, and justness of stature ; and among them was a damsel riding upon a mule with an embroidered saddle, the stirrups of which were of gold, and she was covered with an izar of delicate fabric, and round her waist was a girdle of gold-embroidered silk: and when they arrived at the shop of Abu-l-Hasan, she alighted, and, seating herself at his shop, saluted him, and he returned her salutation. And when 'Ali the son of Bekkar beheld her, his reason was captivated, and he desired to rise; but she said to him, Sit in thy place. Wherefore wouldst thou depart on our arrival? This is not just conduct. So he replied, By Allah, O my mistress, I flee from that which I have beheld. And how excellent is the saying of the poet ! She is the sun her place is in heaven: comfort then the heart with a becoming patience : For thou art not able to ascend unto her; nor is she able to descend unto thee. And when she heard this reply, she smiled, and said to Abu-l-Hasan, What is the name of this young man, and whence is he? He answered her, He is a stranger: his name is 'Ali the son of Bekkar, and he is son of the King of the Persians; and the stranger should be honoured. And thereupon she said to him, When my slave-girl cometh to thee, do thou bring him to me. To which Abu-l-Hasan replied, On the head. She then rose, and went her way. Now as to 'Ali the son of Bekkar, he became in such a state that he knew not what to say; and after a while, the slave-girl came to Abu-l-Hasan, and said to him, My mistress summoneth thee, together with thy companion. So Abu-lHasan rose, and taking with him 'Ali the son of Bekkar, they both went to the palace of Harun Er-Rashid, and she introduced them into a private chamber, and seated them; and the tables were placed before them, and they ate, and washed their hands. She then brought to them the wine, and they made themselves merry with it; after which, she desired them to rise. They therefore rose and went with her, and she conducted them into another private chamber, raised upon four columns, decked with a variety of furniture, and decorated in the most beautiful manner, as though it were one of the palaces of Paradise, so that they were |