صفحة 499 من 1116

When the Caliph heard his verses he said to Ja'afar, "See this

poor man and note his verses, for surely they point to his

necessities." Then he accosted him and asked, "O Shaykh, what be

thine occupation?" and the poor man answered, "O my lord, I am a

fisherman with a family to keep and I have been out between

mid-day and this time; and not a thing hath Allah made my portion

wherewithal to feed my family. I cannot even pawn myself to buy

them a supper and I hate and disgust my life and I hanker after

death." Quoth the Caliph, "Say me, wilt thou return with us to

Tigris' bank and cast thy net on my luck, and whatsoever turneth

up I will buy of thee for an hundred gold pieces?" The man

rejoiced when he heard these words and said, "On my head be it! I

will go back with you;" and, returning with them river-wards,

made a cast and waited a while; then he hauled in the rope and

dragged the net ashore and there appeared in it a chest padlocked

and heavy.