Pagina 745 di 1116

So I grew up amongst my uncles who rejoiced in me with exceeding

joy, till I came to man's estate. One day which happened to be a

Friday, I went to the Cathedral mosque of Mosul with my father

and my uncles, and we prayed the congregational prayers, after

which the folk went forth, except my father and uncles, who sat

talking of wondrous things in foreign parts and the marvellous

sights of strange cities. At last they mentioned Egypt, and one

of my uncles said, "Travellers tell us that there is not on

earth's face aught fairer than Cairo and her Nile;" and these

words made me long to see Cairo. Quoth my father, "Whoso hath not

seen Cairo hath not seen the world. Her dust is golden and her

Nile a miracle holden; and her women are as Houris fair; puppets,

beautiful pictures; her houses are palaces rare; her water is

sweet and light[FN#575] and her mud a commodity and a medicine

beyond compare, even as said the poet in this his poetry:-