Страница 881 из 1116

Presently he cried out, "Ho boy, bring us the chickens stuffed

with pistachio nuts;" and said to my brother, "By thy life, O my

guest, I have fattened these chickens upon pistachios; eat, for

thou hast never eaten their like." "O my lord," replied my

brother, "they are indeed first rate." Then the host began

motioning with his hand as though he were giving my brother a

mouthful; and ceased not to enumerate and expatiate upon the

various dishes to the hungry man whose hunger waxt still more

violent, so that his soul lusted after a bit of bread, even a

barley scone.[FN#690] Quoth the Barmecide, "Didst thou ever taste

anything more delicious than the seasoning of these dishes?"; and

quoth my brother, "Never, O my lord!" "Eat heartily and be not

ashamed," said the host, and the guest, "I have eaten my fill of

meat;" So the entertainer cried, "Take away and bring in the

sweets;" and turning to my brother said, "Eat of this almond

conserve for it is prime and of these honey fritters; take this

one, by my life, the syrup runs out of it." "May I never be

bereaved of thee, O my lord," replied the hungry one and began to

ask him about the abundance of musk in the fritters.