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When he ended his verse he bade one of his pages saddle him his

Nubian mare-mule with her padded selle. Now she was a

dapple-grey, [FN#372] with ears like reed-pens and legs like

columns and a back high and strong as a dome builded on pillars;

her saddle was of gold-cloth and her stirrups of Indian steel,

and her housing of Ispahan velvet; she had trappings which would

serve the Chosroes, and she was like a bride adorned for her

wedding night. Moreover he bade lay on her back a piece of silk

for a seat, and a prayer-carpet under which were his saddle-bags.

When this was done he said to his pages and slaves, "I purpose

going forth a-pleasuring outside the city on the road to

Kalyub-town, [FN#373] and I shall lie three nights abroad; so let

none of you follow me, for there is something straiteneth my

breast." Then he mounted the mule in haste; and, taking with him

some provaunt for the way, set out from Cairo and faced the open

and uncultivated country lying around it.