صفحة 587 من 1116

Haply he but now came forth of the tavern on some occasion of his

own and his wine flew to his head,[FN#432] whereby he hath missed

the place he was making for and strayed till he came to the gate

of the city; and finding it shut lay him down and went to by-by!"

As the people were bandying guesses about him suddenly the

morning breeze blew upon Badr al-Din and raising his shirt to his

middle showed a stomach and navel with something below it,

[FN#433] and legs and thighs clear as crystal and smooth as

cream. Cried the people, "By Allah he is a pretty fellow!"; and

at the cry Badr al-din awoke and found himself lying at a

city-gate with a crowd gathered around him.