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Then said the host, "Honour me by eating of this meat and be not

ashamed." And he kept moving his hand to and fro as if he ate and

saying to my brother, "I wonder to see thee eating thus sparely:

do not stint thyself for I am sure thou art famished." So my

brother began to make as though he were eating whilst his host

kept saying to him, "Fall to, and note especially the excellence

of this bread and its whiteness!" But still my brother saw

nothing. Then said he to himself, "This man is fond of poking fun

at people;" and replied, "O my lord, in all my days I never knew

aught more winsome than its whiteness or sweeter than its

savour." The Barmecide said, "This bread was baked by a hand maid

of mine whom I bought for five hundred dinars." Then he called

out, "Ho boy, bring in the meat pudding[FN#687] for our first

dish, and let there be plenty of fat in it;" and, turning to my

brother said, "O my guest, Allah upon thee, hast ever seen

anything better than this meat pudding?