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The traces of illness are yet upon thee and haply thou art going

among folk who be mighty talkers, men who commune together of

what concerneth them not; or there may be amongst them some

forward fellow who will split thy head, and thou half thy size

from sickness." "This shall be for some other day," answered I,

and laughed with heart angered: "finish thy work and go, in Allah

Almighty's guard, to thy friends, for they will be expecting thy

coming." "O my lord," replied he, "I seek only to introduce thee

to these fellows of infinite mirth, the sons of men of worth,

amongst whom there is neither procacity nor dicacity nor

loquacity; for never, since I grew to years of discretion, could

I endure to consort with one who asketh questions concerning what

concerneth him not, nor have I ever frequented any save those who

are, like myself, men of few words.