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Know, O Commander of the Faithful, that my second brother's name

was Al-Haddar, that is the Babbler, and he was the paralytic. Now

it happened to him one day, as he was going about his business,

that an old woman accosted him and said, "Stop a little, my good

man, that I may tell thee of somewhat which, if it be to thy

liking, thou shalt do for me and I will pray Allah to give thee

good of it!" My brother stopped and she went on, "I will put thee

in the way of a certain thing, so thou not be prodigal of

speech." "On with thy talk," quoth he; and she, "What sayest thou

to handsome quarters and a fair garden with flowing waters,

flowers blooming, and fruit growing, and old wine going and a

pretty young face whose owner thou mayest embrace from dark till

dawn?