صفحة 894 من 1116

Then said the King, "Explain to the Barber the case of this

Hunchback and what befell him at supper time; also repeat to him

the stories told by the Nazarene, the Jew, the Reeve, and the

Tailor; and of no avail to me is a twice told tale." They did his

bidding, and the Barber shook his head and said, "By Allah, this

is a marvel of marvels! Now uncover me the corpse of yonder

Hunchback. They undid the winding sheet and he sat down and,

taking the Hunchback's head in his lap, looked at his face and

laughed and guffaw'd[FN#697] till he fell upon his back and said,

"There is wonder in every death,[FN#698] but the death of this

Hunchback is worthy to be written and recorded in letters of

liquid gold!" The bystanders were astounded at his words and the

King marvelled and said to him, "What ails thee, O Silent Man?