Pagina 716 de 1116

Know, O King, that last night I was at a party where they made a

perlection of the Koran and got together doctors of law and

religion skilled in recitation and intoning; and, when the

readers ended, the table was spread and amongst other things they

set before us was a marinated ragout[FN#553] flavoured with cumin

seed. So we sat down, but one of our number held back and refused

to touch it. We conjured him to eat of it but he swore he would

not; and, when we again pressed him, he said, "Be not instant

with me; sufficeth me that which hath already befallen me through

eating it", and he began reciting:

"Shoulder thy tray and go straight to thy goal; * And, if suit

thee this Kohl why,-use this Kohl!"[FN#554]