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"If not master of manners or aught but discreet * In the

household of Kings no trust could he take: And then for the

Harem! what Eunuch [FN#458] is he * Whom angels would serve for

his service sake."

The Eunuch marvelled and was pleased at these words, so he took

Ajib by the hand and went into the cook's shop: whereupon Hasan

the Bassorite ladled into a saucer some conserve of

pomegranate-grains wonderfully good, dressed with almonds and

sugar, saying, "You have honoured me with your company: eat then

and health and happiness to you!" Thereupon Ajib said to his

father, "Sit thee down and eat with us; so perchance Allah may

unite us with him we long for." Quoth Hasan, "O my son, hast thou

then been afflicted in thy tender years with parting from those

thou lovest?" Quoth Ajib, "Even so, O nuncle mine; my heart burns

for the loss of a beloved one who is none other than my father;

and indeed I come forth, I and my grandfather, [FN#459] to circle

and search the world for him.