Страница 792 из 1116

Specify to me what is in thy house for my guests that I may be

ware of it." Quoth I, "Five dishes of meat and ten chickens with

reddened breasts[FN#618] and a roasted lamb." "Set them before

me," quoth he "that I may see them." So I told my people to buy,

borrow or steal them and bring them in anywise, And had all this

set before him. When he saw it he cried, "The wine is wanting,"

and I replied, "I have a flagon or two of good old grape-juice in

the house," and he said, "Have it brought out!" So I sent for it

and he exclaimed, "Allah bless thee for a generous disposition!

But there are still the essences and perfumes." So I bade them

set before him a box containing Nadd,[FN#619] the best of

compound perfumes, together with fine lign-aloes, ambergris and

musk unmixed, the whole worth fifty dinars.