Medieval Sourcebook: Abul Hasan Ali Al-Masu'di (Masoudi) (ca. 895?-957 C ) !"e #ook o$ %olden Meado&s' c.

9() C

*Horne +n,roduc,ionAmong the early chronicles of the Arabs, by far the most celebrated is the many-volumed work of Masoudi, called the "Book of Golden Meadows." It is a collection of interesting and sometimes scandalous anecdotes about anything and everything in the ast, but chiefly about the earlier cali hs. Masoudi himself was born at Baghdad, but was, like many of his countrymen, a wanderer. After visiting all lands, he finally selected !gy t as his dwellinglace, and there died, robably in "#$.

!"e Cali."a,e o$ Abu '#akr' ,"e !ru,"$ul !"e Cali."a,e o$ Al Mansur' !"e #uilder o$ #a/"dad' 75(-775 C o Al Mansur and Abu Musli0 o Al Mansur and +bn Al Muka$$a o Ho& Al Mansur 1as !ricked o 2ea," o$ Al Mansur !"e Cali."a,e o$ Al Ma"di 77(35-785 C o Al Ma"di and His 4i5ier 6akub ibn 2aud o Al Ma"di and ,"e 7oe, Abu'l A,a"i8a" o 2ea," o$ Al Ma"di !"e Cali." Haroun Al 9as"id 78:-8)9 C o !"e #ar0ecides' 4i5iers o$ Haroun Al 9as"id o !"e ;all o$ ,"e #ar0ecides !"e Cali." Al Ma0oun 8<=-8== C o Al Ma0oun and +bra"i0' ,"e Son o$ Ma"di o !"e 2ea," o$ Al Ma0oun

More recen, ,ransla,ions include Mas'udi' !"e Meado&s o$ %old : !"e Abbasids' ,ransla,ed b8 7aul >unde and Caroline S,one' ?@e/an 7aul' A.ril <989) +S#A: )7<)=)B(:) +sla0ic His,orio/ra."8 : !"e His,ories o$ Masudi' ,rans. @"alidi !ari$' (SCA6 7ress' <975) +S#A: )87=95B8B)

>e, us .raise %od' &"ose &orks &e s"ould s,ud8' and celebra,e and /lori$8. Ma8 %od /ran, "is blessin/ and "is .eace ,o Mo"a00ed' c"ie$ o$ ,"e .ro."e,s' and ,o all "is "ol8 .os,eri,8. The Caliphate of Abu 'Bakr, the Truthful Abu '#akr sur.assed all ,"e Mu"a00adans in "is aus,eri,8' "is $ru/ali,8' and ,"e si0.lici,8 o$ "is li$e and ou,&ard a..earance. 2urin/ "is rule "e &ore bu, a sin/le linen /ar0en, and a cloak. +n ,"is si0.le dress "e /ave audience ,o ,"e c"ie$s o$ ,"e nobles, Arab ,ribes and ,o ,"e kin/s o$ 6e0en. !"e la,,er a..eared be$ore "i0 dressed in ric"es, robes' covered &i," /old

e0broideries and &earin/ s.lendid cro&ns. #u, a, si/", o$ ,"e Cali."' s"a0ed b8 "is 0in/lin/ o$ .ious "u0ili,8 and earnes, /ravi,8' ,"e8 $ollo&ed "is eDa0.le and renounced ,"eir /or/eous a,,ire. The Caliphate of Al Mansur, The Builder of Baghdad Al Mansur' ,"e ,"ird Cali." o$ ,"e "ouse o$ Abbas' succeeded "is bro,"er s-Sa$$a" (E,"e blood-s"edderE). He &as a .rince o$ /rea, .rudence' in,e/ri,8' and discre,ionF bu, ,"ese /ood Guali,ies &ere sullied b8 "is eD,raordinar8 cove,ousness and occasional cruel,8. He .a,roni5ed .oe,s and learned 0en' and &as endo&ed &i," a re0arkable 0e0or8. +, is said ,"a, "e could re0e0ber a .oe0 a$,er "avin/ onl8 once "eard i,. He also "ad a slave &"o could co00i, ,o 0e0or8 an8,"in/ ,"a, "e "ad "eard ,&ice' and a slave-/irl &"o could do ,"e sa0e &i," &"a, s"e "ad "eard ,"ree ,i0es. Hne da8 ,"ere ca0e ,o "i0 a .oe, brin/in/ a con/ra,ula,or8 ode' and Al Mansur said ,o "i0: E+$ i, a..ears ,"a, an8bod8 kno&s i, b8 "ear,' or ,"a, an8 one co0.osed i,---,"a, is ,o sa8' ,"a, i, &as brou/", "ere b8 so0e o,"er .erson be$ore ,"ee---&e &ill /ive ,"ee no reco0.ense $or i,F bu, i$ no one kno&s i,' &e &ill /ive ,"ee ,"e &ei/", in 0one8 o$ ,"a, u.on &"ic" i, is &ri,,en.E So ,"e .oe, re.ea,ed "is .oe0' and ,"e Cali." a, once co00i,,ed i, ,o 0e0or8' al,"ou/" i, con,ained a ,"ousand lines. !"en "e said ,o ,"e .oe,: E>is,en ,o i, $ro0 0e'E and "e reci,ed i, .er$ec,l8. !"en "e added: EAnd ,"is slave' ,oo' kno&s i, b8 "ear,.E !"is &as ,"e case' as "e "ad "eard i, ,&ice' once $ro0 ,"e .oe, and once $ro0 ,"e Cali.". !"en ,"e Cali." said: EAnd ,"is slave-/irl' &"o is concealed b8 ,"e cur,ain' s"e also recollec,s i,.E So s"e re.ea,ed ever8 le,,er o$ i,' and ,"e .oe, &en, a&a8 unre&arded. Ano,"er .oe,' l As0aI8' &as a0on/ ,"e in,i0a,e $riends and ,able-co0.anions o$ ,"e Cali.". He co0.osed so0e ver8 di$$icul, verses' and scra,c"ed ,"e0 u.on a $ra/0en, o$ a 0arble .illar' &"ic" "e &ra..ed in a cloak and .laced on ,"e back o$ a ca0el. !"en "e dis/uised "i0sel$ like a $orei/n Arab' and $as,ened on a $ace-clo,"' so ,"a, no,"in/ &as visible bu, "is e8es' and ca0e ,o ,"e Cali." and said: E4eril8 + "ave lauded ,"e Co00ander o$ ,"e ;ai,"$ul in a '@asida"'E (ode). !"en said Al Mansur: EH bro,"er o$ ,"e ArabsJ i$ ,"e .oe0 "as been brou/", b8 an8 one beside ,"ee' &e &ill /ive ,"ee no reco0.ense $or i,F o,"er&ise &e &ill bes,o& on ,"ee ,"e &ei/", in 0one8 o$ ,"a, u.on &"ic" i, is &ri,,en.E So l As0aI8 reci,ed ,"e @asida"' &"ic"' as i, &as eD,raordinaril8 in,rica,e and di$$icul,' ,"e Cali." could no, co00i, ,o 0e0or8. He looked ,o&ard ,"e slave and ,"e /irl' bu, ,"e8 "ad nei,"er o$ ,"e0 learned i,. So "e cried: EH bro,"er o$ ,"e ArabsJ brin/ "i,"er ,"a, &"ereon i, is &ri,,en' ,"a, &e 0a8 /ive ,"ee i,s &ei/",.E !"en said ,"e see0in/ Arab: EH 08 >ordJ o$ a ,ru," + could $ind no .a.er ,o &ri,e i, u.onF bu, + "ad a0on/s, ,"e ,"in/s le$, 0e a, 08 $a,"er's dea," a .iece o$ a 0arble colu0n &"ic" "ad been ,"ro&n aside as useless' so + scra,c"ed ,"e @asida" u.on ,"a,.E !"en ,"e Cali." "ad no "el. $or i, bu, ,o /ive "i0 i,s &ei/", in /old' and ,"is nearl8 eD"aus,ed "is ,reasur8. !"e .oe, ,ook i, and de.ar,ed. 1"en "e "ad /one a&a8' ,"e Cali." said: E+, $orces i, sel$ u.on 08 0ind ,"a, ,"is is l As0aI8.E So "e co00anded "i0 ,o be brou/", back' and loJ i, &as l As0aI8' &"o said: EH Co00ander o$ ,"e ;ai,"$ulJ veril8 ,"e .oe,s are .oor and are $a,"ers o$ $a0ilies' and ,"ou dos, debar ,"e0 $ro0 receivin/ an8,"in/ b8 ,"e .o&er o$ ,"8 0e0or8 and ,"e

0e0ories o$ ,"is slave and ,"is slave-/irl. #u, &er, ,"ou ,o bes,o& u.on ,"e0 &"a, ,"ou could easil8 s.are' ,"e8 0i/", &i," i, su..or, ,"eir $a0ilies' and i, could no, inKure ,"ee.E Hne da8 ,"e .oe, !"alibi reci,ed an ode in ,"e .resence o$ Al Mansur' "o.in/ $or a re&ard. 1"en "e "ad $inis"ed' ,"e Cali." said ,o "i0: E1ill 8ou "ave ,"ree "undred dinars $ro0 08 ,reasur8' or "ear ,"ree &ise sa8in/s $ro0 08 li.s?E EH"'E said ,"e .oe,' anDious ,o curr8 $avor &i," "is 0as,er' Edurable &isdo0 is be,,er ,"an ,ransi,or8 ,reasure.E E4er8 &ell'E said ,"e Cali."' E,"e $irs, &ord o$ &isdo0 is: 1"en 8our /ar0en, is &orn' don', se& on a ne& .a,c"' $or i, looks badl8.E EalasJ alasJE &ailed ,"e .oe,' E,"ere /o a "undred dinars a, one blo&.E !"e Cali." s0iled' and con,inued: E!"e second .iece o$ advice is: 1"en 8ou anoin, 8our beard' don', anoin, ,"e bo,,o0 o$ i,' les, 8ou soil 8our clo,"es.E EA"JE si/"ed ,"e .oe,' E,"ere /o ,"e second "undred.E A/ain ,"e Cali." s0iled' and con,inued: E!"e ,"ird .iece o$ advice-----E EH Cali."'E cried ,"e .oe, in an a/on8: Ekee. ,"e ,"ird .iece o$ advice ,o 8oursel$ and le, 0e "ave ,"e las, "undred dinars.E !"en ,"e Cali." lau/"ed ou,ri/", and ordered $ive "undred dinars ,o be .aid "i0 $ro0 ,"e ,reasur8.

Al Mansur and Abu Muslim Abu Musli0 &as one o$ ,"e c"ie$ /enerals o$ s-Sa$$a"' Al Mansur's bro,"er and .redecessor. Hn "is accession Al Mansur beca0e Kealous o$ Abu Musli0's /rea, .o&er and in$luence' bu, sen, "i0 no,&i,"s,andin/ ,o .u, do&n a revol, raised b8 Abd alla"' ,"e son o$ ali. A$,er several ba,,les' Abd alla" $led and ,ook re$u/e in #assora"' ,"e &"ole o$ "is ca0. and ,reasure $allin/ in,o ,"e "ands o$ Abu Musli0. Al Mansur sen, 6ak,in bin Musa ,o ,ake c"ar/e o$ ,"e ,reasure. Hn a..earin/ be$ore Abu Musli0' 6ak,in said ,o "i0: E7eace be ,o ,"ee' 0irJE EA 0urrain on ,"ee' son o$ a .ros,i,u,eJE ans&ered ,"e /eneral. E!"e8 can use 0e ,o s"ed 08 blood' bu, no, ,o /uard a ,reasure.E EM8 lord'E ans&ered ,"e 0essen/er' E&"a, "as .u, suc" ,"ou/",s in,o 8our "ead?E EHas no, ,"8 0as,er'E ans&ered Abu Musli0' Esen, ,"ee ,o con$isca,e all ,"e ,reasure &"ic" "as co0e in,o 08 .ossession?E EMa8 08 &i$e be divorced $orever'E said ,"e Cali."'s a/en,' Ei$ "e "as no, sen, 0e si0.l8 and solel8 ,o con/ra,ula,e 8ou u.on 8our vic,or8 and successJE Hn ,"ese &ords Abu Musli0 e0braced "i0 and 0ade "i0 si, b8 "is side. Ao,&i,"s,andin/ ,"is' "o&ever' &"en "e "ad bidden "i0 $are&ell' "e said ,o "is o$$icers: E#8 alla"J + kno& ,"is 0an &ill divorce "is &i$e' si0.l8 ou, o$ $ideli,8 ,o "is 0as,er.E 1"en "e "ad resolved ,o revol, a/ains, Al Mansur' Abu Musli0 le$, Meso.o,a0ia' and se, ou, $or @"orassanF &"ile on "is .ar, Al Mansur le$, Anbar' and enca0.ed near ,"e ci,8 o$ 9u0i8e". ;ro0 ,"ence "e sen, ,"e $ollo&in/ 0essa/e ,o Abu Musli0: E+ &is" ,o consul, 8ou on 0a,,ers &"ic" can no, be con$ided ,o a le,,erF co0e "i,"er' and + s"all no, de,ain 8ou lon/.E Abu Musli0 read ,"e le,,er' bu, &ould no, /o. Al Mansur ,"en sen, ,o "i0 2Kerir' son o$ 6e5id' ,"e 0os, acco0.lis"ed di.lo0a,is, o$ "is ,i0e' &"o "ad alread8 0ade ,"e acGuain,ance o$ Abu Musli0 in @"orassan. 1"en 2Kerir ca0e in,o Abu Musli0's .resence' "e addressed "i0 as $ollo&s: EM8 lord' 8ou "ave $ou/", "i,"er,o $ai,"$ull8 $or ,"e Abbassids (Al Mansur's $a0il8)F &"8 s"ould 8ou no& ,urn a/ains, ,"e0? Ao in$or0a,ion "as reac"ed ,"e Cali." &"ic" s"ould ins.ire 8ou &i," an8 sor, o$ $earF 8ou "ave reall8' in 08 belie$' no reason ,o .ursue ,"is line o$ conduc,.E Abu

Musli0 &as on ,"e .oin, o$ .ro0isin/ ,o re,urn &i," "i0' &"en one o$ "is in,i0a,es .ressed "i0 no, ,o do so. EM8 $riend'E ,"e c"ie$ ans&ered "i0' E+ can resis, ,"e su//es,ions o$ ,"e devil' bu, no, ,"ose o$ a 0an like ,"is.E And in $ac, 2Kerir did no, cease "is .ersuasions ,ill "e "ad induced "i0 ,o .roceed ,o ,"e Cali.". Abu Musli0 "ad consul,ed as,rolo/ers' &"o ,old "i0 ,"a, "e &as ,o des,ro8 a d8nas,8' crea,e a d8nas,8' and be slain in ,"e land o$ 9u0. Al Mansur &as ,"en a, 9u0ai8a, al-Madain' a .lace $ounded b8 one o$ ,"e 7ersian kin/s' and Abu Musli0 never sus.ec,ed ,"a, "e s"ould 0ee, &i," "is dea," ,"ere' as "e $ancied ,"a, i, &as Asia Minor &"ic" &as 0ean, b8 ,"e oracle. Hn en,erin/ in,o Al Mansur's .resence' "e 0e, &i," a 0os, $avorable rece.,ion' and &as ,"en ,old ,o re,ire ,o "is ,en,F bu, ,"e Cali." onl8 &ai,ed a $avorable o..or,uni,8 ,o ,ake "i0 una&ares. Abu Musli0 ,"en rode a nu0ber o$ ,i0es ,o visi, Al Mansur' &"ose 0anner a..eared less cordial ,"an be$ore. A, las, "e &en, ,o ,"e .alace one da8' and' bein/ in$or0ed ,"a, ,"e Cali." &as 0akin/ "is ablu,ions .reviousl8 ,o "is .ra8ers' sa, do&n in an an,ec"a0ber. +n ,"e 0ean&"ile Al Mansur "ad .os,ed so0e .ersons be"ind a cur,ain near ,o ,"e so$a &"ere Abu Musli0 &as si,,in/' &i," ,"e orders no, ,o a..ear ',ill ,"e Cali." cla..ed "is "ands. Hn ,"is si/nal ,"e8 &ere ,o s,rike o$$ Abu Musli0's "ead. Al Mansur ,"en ,ook "is sea, on ,"e ,"rone' and Abu Musli0' bein/ in,roduced' 0ade "is salu,a,ion' &"ic" ,"e Cali." re,urned. Al Mansur ,"en .er0i,,ed "i0 ,o si,' and' "avin/ co00enced ,"e conversa,ion' .roceeded ,o level sundr8 re.roac"es a/ains, "i0. E!"ou "as, done ,"is'E said "e' Eand ,"ou "as, done ,"a,.E E1"8 does 08 lord s.eak so ,o 0e'E re.lied Abu Musli0' Ea$,er all 08 e$$or,s and services?E ESon o$ a .ros,i,u,eJE eDclai0ed Al Mansur' E,"ou o&es, ,"8 success ,o our o&n /ood $or,une. Had a ne/ress slave been in ,"8 .lace' s"e &ould "ave done as 0uc" as ,"ouJ 1a/ i, no, ,"ou &"o sou/",es, ,o ob,ain in 0arria/e 08 aun,' Aasi8a' .re,endin/ indeed ,"a, ,"ou &as, a descendan, o$ Sali,' ,"e son o$ Abd alla" +bn Abbas? !"ou "as, under,aken' in$a0ous &re,c"J ,o 0oun, &"ere ,"ou cans, no, reac".E Hn ,"is Abu Musli0 sei5ed "i0 b8 ,"e "and' &"ic" "e kissed and .ressed' o$$erin/ eDcuses $or "is conduc,F bu, Al Mansur s"ou,ed: EMa8 %od no, s.are 0e i$ + s.are ,"eeJE He ,"en cla..ed "is "ands' on &"ic" ,"e assassins rus"ed ou, u.on Abu Musli0 and cu, "i0 ,o .ieces &i," ,"eir s&ords' Al Mansur eDclai0in/ all ,"e ,i0e: E%od cu, 8our "ands o$$' rascalsJ S,rikeJE Hn receivin/ ,"e $irs, blo& Abu Musli0 said: ECo00ander o$ ,"e ;ai,"$ul' s.are 0e ,"a, + 0a8 be use$ul a/ains, ,"8 ene0ies.E !"e Cali." re.lied: EMa8 %od never s.are 0e i$ + doJ 1"ere "ave + a /rea,er ene08 ,"an ,"ee?E 1"en Abu Musli0 &as slain' "is bod8 &as rolled u. in a car.e,' and soon a$,er Al Mansur's /eneral' La$ar +bn Han5ala' en,ered. E1"a, ,"ink 8ou o$ Abu Musli0?E ,"e Cali." said ,o "i0. ECo00ander o$ ,"e ;ai,"$ul'E ans&ered ,"e o,"er' Ei$ 8ou "ave ever ,"e 0is$or,une ,o .ull a sin/le "air ou, o$ "is "ead' ,"ere is no resource $or 8ou bu, ,o kill "i0' and ,o kill "i0' and ,o kill "i0 a/ain.E E%od "as /iven ,"ee unders,andin/'E re.lied Al Mansur: E"ere "e is in ,"e car.e,.E Hn seein/ "i0 dead' Han5ala said: ECo00ander o$ ,"e ;ai,"$ul' coun, ,"is as ,"e $irs, da8 o$ 8our rei/n.E Al Mansur ,"en reci,ed ,"is verse: EHe ,"re& a&a8 "is s,a$$ o$ ,ravel' and $ound re.ose a$,er a lon/ Kourne8.E A$,er ,"is "e ,urned ,o&ard ,"e .ersons .resen,' and reci,ed ,"ese lines over ,"e .ros,ra,e bod8: E!"ou dids, .re,end ,"a, our deb, ,o ,"ee could never be .aidJ 9eceive no& ,"8 accoun, in $ull' H Abu MuKri0. 2rink o$ ,"a, drau/", &"ic" ,"ou dids, so o$,en serve ,o o,"ers---a drau/", 0ore bi,,er ,o ,"e ,"roa, ,"an /all.E

Al Mansur and Ibn Al Mukaffa Ibn Al Mukaffa, the translator of the book "%alilah and &imnah" from 'ehlevi into Arabic, was one of the most learned men during the reign of Al Mansur, but sus ected of (endikism, or free-thinking. Al Mansur is re orted to have said) "I never found a book on (endikism which did not owe its origin to Ibn Al Mukaffa." *he latter used to be a thorn in the side of +ofyan, the governor of Basra. As +ofyan had a large nose, Ibn Al Mukaffa used to say to him when he visited him) ",ow are you both-" meaning him and his nose. +ofyan once said) "I had never reason to re ent kee ing silence." And Ibn Al Mukaffa re lied) "&umbness becomes you. why should you re ent of it-" *hese gibes rankled in +ofyan/s mind, and ere long he had an o ortunity of glutting his vengeance on Ibn Al Mukaffa. Abdallah, the uncle of Al Mansur, had revolted against his ne hew, and as ired to the 0ali hate. but being defeated by Abu Muslim, who had been sent against him at the head of an army, he took to flight, and dreading the vengeance of Al Mansur, lay concealed at the house of his brothers, +ulaiman and Isa. *hese two then interceded for him with the 0ali h, who consented to forgive what had assed. and it was decided that a letter of ardon should be granted by Al Mansur. 1n coming to Basra the two brothers told Ibn Al Mukaffa, who was secretary to Isa, to draw u the letter of ardon, and to word it in the strongest terms, so as to leave no rete2t to Al Mansur for making an attem t against Abdallah/s life. Ibn Al Mukaffa obeyed their directions, and drew u the letter in the most binding terms, inserting in it, among others, the following clause) "And if at any time the 0ommander of the 3aithful act erfidiously toward his uncle, Abdallah Ibn ali, his wives shall be divorced from him, his horses shall be confiscated for the service of God in war, his slaves shall become free, and the Moslems loosed from their allegiance to him." *he other conditions of the deed were e2 ressed in a manner e4ually strict. Al Mansur, having read the a er, was highly dis leased, and asked who wrote it. 1n being informed that it was Ibn Al Mukaffa, his brother/s secretary, he sent a letter to +ofyan, the governor of Basra, ordering him to ut Ibn Al Mukaffa to death. +ofyan was already filled with rancor against Ibn Al Mukaffa, for the reasons mentioned above. ,e summoned him, and, when he a eared, reminded him of his gibes. "!mir5" e2claimed Ibn Al Mukaffa, "I im lore you in the name of God to s are my life." "May my mother be disgraced," re lied +ofyan, "if I do not kill thee in a manner such as none was ever killed in before." 1n this he ordered an oven to be heated, and the limbs of Ibn Al Mukaffa to be cut off, 6oint by 6oint. these he cast into the oven before his eyes, and he then threw him in bodily, and closed the oven on him, saying. "It is not a crime in me to unish you thus, for you are a (indik 7free-thinker8 who corru ted the eo le." +alaiman and Isa, having made in4uiries about their secretary, were informed that he had gone into the alace of +ofyan in good health and that he had not come out. *hey therefore cited +ofyan before Al Mansur, and brought him with them in chains. 9itnesses were roduced, who declared that they saw Ibn Al Mukaffa enter +ofyan/s alace, and that he never came out after, and Al Mansur romised to e2amine into the matter. ,e then said to them) "+u ose that I ut +ofyan to death in retaliation for the death of Ibn Al Mukaffa, and that Ibn Al Mulkaffa himself then came forth from that door" 7 ointing to one which was behind him8 "and s oke to you---what should I do to you in that case- I should ut you to death in retaliation for the death of +ofyan." 1n this the witnesses retraced their evidence,

and Isa and +ulaiman ceased to s eak of their secretary, knowing that he had been killed by order of Al Mansur, who, disregarding his romise, cast Abdallah Ibn ali into rison. *errible as was the wrath of Al Mansur when roused, there were not wanting on occasion those among his sub6ects who had the courage to rebuke him. 1nce the 0ali h was addressing an audience at &amascus, and said) "1 ye eo le5 it is incumbent on you to give raise to the Most ,igh that he has sent me to reign over you. 3or verily since I began to reign over you, he has taken away the lague which had come amongst you." But a certain Arab cried out to him) "1f a truth allah is too merciful to give us both thee and the lague at one time5" 1n another occasion the theologian Malik Ibn Anas relates the following) "1ne day the 0ali h Mansur sent for me and my friend Ibn *aous, against whom he was known to entertain a grudge. 9hen we entered the resence-chamber, we beheld the e2ecutioner with his sword drawn and the leather car et s read, on which it was customary to behead criminals. *he 0ali h signed to us to seat ourselves, and when we had done so he remained a long time with his head bent in meditation. ,e then raised it, and turning to Ibn *aous, said) /:ecite me a saying of the 'ro het, on whom be eace./ "Ibn *aous re lied) /*he 'ro het of God has said, "*he worst unished criminals in the day of 6udgment will be those to whom God has entrusted authority and who have abused it."/ *he 0ali h was silent, and there was a ause. I trembled, and drew my garments close round me, lest any of the blood of Ibn *aous, whom I e2 ected to see instantly e2ecuted, should s urt u on them. *hen the 0ali h said to Ibn *aous) /,and me that ink ot./ But he never stirred. /9hy don/t you hand it-/ asked the 0ali h. /Because,/ he said, /I fear you may write some wrong order, and I do not wish to share the res onsibility./ /Get u and go,/ the 0ali h growled. /'recisely what we were desiring,/ answered Ibn *aous, of whose courage and coolness I from that day formed a high o inion." Another bold rebuker of Al Mansur was the saint and mystic, Amr Ibn 1baid, of whom it was said that he had been "educated by the angels and brought u by the ro hets." Before Al Mansur/s elevation to the 0ali hate, Amr Ibn 1baid had been his com anion and intimate friend. 9hen Mansur came to the throne Amr went one day into his resence, and was told by him to draw near and sit down. *he 0ali h then asked to hear an e2hortation from him. Amr addressed him an admonition, in which he said, among other things) "*he ower which thou now wieldest, had it remained in the hands of thy redecessors, would never have come to thee. Be warned, then, of that night which shall give birth to a day never more to be followed by another night. 9hen Amr rose to de art, Al Mansur said) "9e have ordered ten thousand ieces of silver to be given thee." "I stand not in need thereof," re lied Amr. "By allah, thou shalt take it5" e2claimed the 0ali h. "By allah, I shall not take it5" answered the other. 1n this Al Mansur/s son, Al Mahdi, who ha ened to be resent, said to Amr) "*he 0ommander of the 3aithful swears that a thing shall be done, and yet thou art bold enough to swear that it shall not." "9ho is this youth-" said Amr, turning to Al Mansur. ",e is the declared successor to the 0ali hate, my son, Al Mahdi," re lied Mansur. "*hou hast clothed him in raiment," said Amr, "which is not the raiment of the righteous, and thou hast given him a name which he deserveth not, and thou hast smoothed for him a ath wherein the more rofit the less heed." Al Mansur then asked him if there was anything he wished, and Amr made answer) "+end not for me, but wait till I come to thee." "In that case," said Mansur, "thou wilt never meet me." "*hat," re lied Amr, "is recisely what I desire." ,e then withdrew, and Al Mansur looked

after him and said) "all of you walk with stealthy ste s. all of you are in ursuit of rey---all e2ce t Amr Ibn 1baid5"

How Al Mansur Was Tricked It has before been mentioned that Al Mansur, disregarding the romise of ardon he had made to his uncle, Abdallah Ibn ali, who had revolted against him, cast him into rison, where he remained a long time. 9hen the 0ali h set out on the ilgrimage to Mecca, he committed Abdallah to the care of Isa Ibn Musa, with rivate orders to ut him to death. Isa, not wishing to kill Abdallah, contented himself with concealing him, sending a message to the 0ali h to say that he had been ut to death. *his rumor s read about, and the alides, the artisans of Abdallah, etitioned Al Mansur on the sub6ect. *he 0ali h declared that he had been committed to the care of Isa. *he alides then went to Isa, and hearing from him that Abdallah had been ut to death, came again with com laints to Al Mansur. *he latter feigned to be in a rage, and e2claimed) "+ince Isa has killed my uncle without my authori;ing him to do so, he shall erish in his turn." *he 0ali h secretly desired that Isa should have er etrated this murder, so that he might have a reasonable rete2t for killing him, and thus ridding himself of two enemies at once. ,e accordingly sent for Isa, and said, "Is it true that you have killed my uncle-" "<es," re lied Isa. "you yourself ordered me to do so." "I never gave such an order5" cried the 0ali h. "My lord, here is the letter you sent me." "I never wrote it," said Mansur. Isa, seeing the mood the 0ali h was in, and fearing for his own life, confessed at last that the risoner had been s ared, and was in safe-kee ing. *he 0ali h then ordered him to hand Abdallah over to the kee ing of Abou /l A;har, which was accordingly done, and Abdallah remained in rison /till his death was decided on. 9hen Abou /l A;har came to e2ecute the sentence, he found Abdallah with one of his female slaves. ,e strangled him first, but when he was roceeding to strangle the slave also, she cried out) "+ervant of God, I ray thee for another kind of death." "It was the only time," Abou /l A;har said, "that I felt ity in carrying out a death-sentence. I turned away my eyes while I gave the order to kill her. +he was strangled and laced by the side of her master. I then had the house demolished, and they remained buried in the ruins." Al Mansur visited Medina, and said to his chamberlain, Ar-:abi, on entering the city) "3ind me some learned and intelligent erson who can oint out to me ths chief mansions of the lace) it is now so long since I saw the dwellings of my family." An intelligent youth was discovered by Ar-:abi, and resented to the 0ali h. &uring their e2cursion the guide did not make any observations unless asked by Al Mansur to do so, but he then roceeded with great recision and elo4uence to furnish every re4uisite information. Al Mansur was so highly leased with him that he ordered him a considerable sum of money, but the ayment was delayed so long that the youth found himself under the necessity of asking for it. 1n being asked again to accom any Al Mansur, he fulfilled his ob6ect in the following ingenious manner) As they assed by the house which belonged to Aatika, the granddaughter of Abu +ofyan, the young man said, "*his, 1 0ommander of the 3aithful, is the house of that Aatika to whom Ibn Muhammad Al Ansari alluded in these lines) /&welling

of Aatika5 mansion which I avoid through dread of foes5 although my heart be fi2ed on thee, I turn away and fly thee. but yet unconsciously I turn toward thee again./" *hese words caused Al Mansur to reflect. and he said to himself that the youth here must have some reason for giving information, contrary to his habit, without being asked for it. ,e therefore turned over the leaves of the oem from which the verses were taken, assage by asage, /till he came to the following line) "9e see that you do what you romise, but there are ersons with deceitful tongues who romise but never erform." ,e immediately asked his chamberlain if he had given the youth what had been awarded him, and was informed by him that a articular circumstance, which he mentioned, had caused delay in the ayment. *he 0ali h then ordered Ar-:abi to give him immediately the double of what had been romised. *he youth had most ingeniously hinted the circumstance, and Al Mansur showed great enetration in erceiving it.

Death of Al Mansur Al Mansur was in the habit of saying) "I was born in the month of (/ul ha66a, circumcised in it, attained the 0ali hate in it, and I think I shall die in the same month." And so it befell. 3adl, son of :abi, relates the following) "I accom anied Al Mansur in the 6ourney during which he died. 9hen we had arrived at one of the stages of the march he sent for me. I found him seated in his avilion, with his face turned toward the wall. ,e said to me) /,ave I not told you to revent eo le coming into this room and writing doleful sentences u on the wall-/ /9hat do you mean, 'rince-/ I asked. /&on/t you see what is written on the wall-/ A/ "Abu =afar, thou art about to die. thy years are fulfilled) the will of God must be done." Abu =afar, can any astrologer bind the decrees of God, or art thou entirely blind-/ /*ruly, 'rince,/ I re lied, /I can see no inscri tion on this wall) its surface is smooth and 4uite white./ /+wear it, by God5/ he said. I did so. /It is, then,/ he re lied, /a warning given me to re are for my a roaching demise. >et us hasten to reach the sacred territory, that I may lace myself under the rotection of God, and ask ardon for that wherein I have e2ceeded./ 9e continued our 6ourney, during which the 0ali h suffered great ain. 9hen we arrived at the well of Maimun, I told him the name of the lace, and that we had reached the sacred territory. ,e said, /God be raised5/ and died the same day."

The Caliphate of Al Mahdi Al Mahdi, the third Caliph of the Abbassid dynasty, succeeded his father, Abu Jafar Al Mansur [ ! A"D"#" He was as prodi$al as his father was a%aricious, and rapidly s&uandered his %ast inheritance" Al Mansur had appointed as his instructor, before he succeeded to the throne, 'harki (bn )otami, who was learned in all the lore and traditions of the Arabs" *ne e%enin$ Al Mahdi asked his preceptor to di%ert him with some amusin$ anecdote" +( obey, ,rince" May -od protect you,+ answered 'harki" +They relate that a certain )in$ of Hirah had two courtiers whom he lo%ed e&ually with himself" They ne%er &uitted his society ni$ht or day, in the palace or on a .ourney" He took no decision without consultin$ them, and his wishes coincided with theirs" Thus they li%ed to$ether a lon$ time/

but one e%enin$ the kin$, ha%in$ drunk to e0cess, drew his sword from the sheath, and, rushin$ upon his two friends, killed them/ then he fell into a drunken slumber" +The ne0t mornin$, when told of what he had done, he cast himself upon the earth, bitin$ it in his fury, weepin$ for his friends, and bewailin$ the loss of them" He fasted for some days, and swore that for the rest of his life he would abstain from the be%era$e which had depri%ed him of reason" Then he had them buried, and erected a shrine o%er their remains, to which he $a%e the title, 12l3-hareiain1 4The Two 2ffi$ies5" He commanded, in addition, that no persons should pass this monument without prostratin$ themsel%es" +6ow, like the laws of the Medes and ,ersians, e%ery custom set up by a )in$ of Hirah could not be chan$ed, but became a hard3and3fast tradition, handed on from $eneration to $eneration" The command, therefore, of the )in$ was ri$idly obeyed7 his sub.ects, of low and hi$h de$ree, ne%er passed before the double tomb without prostratin$ themsel%es" This usa$e $radually ac&uired the bindin$ force of a reli$ious rite" The )in$ had ordered that any one who refused to conform to it should be punished with death after e0pressin$ two wishes, which would be $ranted, no matter what they were" +*ne day a fuller passed, bearin$ on his back a bundle of clothes and a mallet" The $uardians of the mausoleum ordered him to kneel down" He refused" They threatened him with death" He persisted in his refusal" They brou$ht him before the )in$, whom they informed of the matter" 1Why did you refuse to bow down81 asked the )in$" 1( did bow down,1 answered the man/ 1they are lyin$"1 16o/ you are the liar91 said the )in$" 120press two wishes/ they shall be $ranted, and then you will die"1 16othin$, then, can sa%e me from death after those men ha%e accused me81 asked the fuller" 16othin$"1 1:ery well,1 replied the fuller, 1here is my wish7 ( wish to strike the )in$ on the head with this mallet"1 1;ool91 answered the )in$" 1(t were better worth your while to let me enrich those whom you lea%e behind you"1 16o,1 said the fuller/ 1( only wish to strike the )in$ on the back of his head"1 +The )in$ then addressed his ministers7 1What do you think,1 he said to them, 1of the wish of this madman81 1<our Ma.esty,1 they answered, 1you yourself ha%e instituted this law7 your Ma.esty knows better than any one that the %iolation of law is a shame, a calamity, a crime which in%ol%es damnation" =esides, after ha%in$ %iolated one law, you will %iolate a second, then a third/ your successors will do the same, and all our laws will be profaned"1 The )in$ replied7 1-et this man to ask anythin$ he likes/ pro%ided he lets me off, ( am ready to $rant all his re&uests, e%en to the half of my kin$dom"1 +They laid these proposals before the fuller, but in %ain/ he declared that he had no other wish but to strike the )in$" The latter, seein$ that the man was thorou$hly resol%ed, con%oked a public assembly" The fuller was introduced" He took his mallet and struck the )in$ on the back of the head so %iolent a blow that he fell from his throne and lay stretched on the $round unconscious" 'ubse&uently he lay ill with fe%er for si0 months, and was so se%erely in.ured that he could only drink a drop at a time" At last he $ot well, reco%ered the use of his ton$ue and could eat and drink" He asked for news of the fuller" *n bein$ told that he was in prison, he summoned him and said7 1There is still a wish re(nainin$ to you7 e0press it, so that ( may order your death accordin$ to law"1 A1'ince it is absolutely necessary that ( must die,1 replied the fuller, 1( wish to strike you another blow on the head"1 At these words the )in$ was sei>ed with dismay and e0claimed that it was all o%er with him" At last he said to the fuller7 1Wretch9 renounce a claim which

is profitless to you" What ad%anta$e ha%e you reaped from your first wish8 Ask for somethin$ else, and whate%er it is, ( will $rant it"1 16o,1 said the man, 1( only demand my ri$ht333the ri$ht to strike you once more"1 +The )in$ a$ain consulted his ministers, who answered that the best thin$ for him was to resi$n himself to death, in obedience to the law" 1=ut,1 said the )in$, 1if he strikes me a$ain, ( shall ne%er be able to drink any more/ ( know what ( ha%e already suffered"1 1We can not help that, your Ma.esty,1 answered the ministers" 1;indin$ himself in this e0tremity, the kin$ said to the fuller7 1Answer, fellow9 that day when you were brou$ht hither by the $uardians of the mausoleum, did not ( hear you declare that you had prostrated yourself and that they had slandered you81 1<es, ( did say so,1 answered the fuller, 1but you would not belie%e me"1 The )in$ .umped from his seat, embraced the fuller, and e0claimed7 1( swear that you are more truthful than these rascals, and that they ha%e lied at your e0pense" ( $i%e you their place, and authori>e you to inflict upon them the punishment they ha%e deser%ed"1+ Al Madhi lau$hed heartily on hearin$ this story, complimented the narrator, and rewarded him $enerously" The followin$ anecdotes are related by ;aika, the dau$hter of Abd allah7 +We were one day with the Caliph Al Mahdi, who had .ust returned from Anbar, to which he had made a pleasure e0cursion, when Ar3?abi, the chamberlain, came in, holdin$ a piece of leather on which some words were written in charcoal, and to which was attached a seal composed of clay mi0ed with ashes and bearin$ the impression of the Caliph1s si$net3rin$" 1Commander of the ;aithful,1 said Ar3?abi, 1( ne%er saw anythin$ more e0traordinary than this document/ ( recei%ed it from an Arab of the desert who was cryin$ out7 +This is the Commander of the ;aithful1s letter9 'how me where to find the man who is called Ar3?abi, for it is to him that he told me to deli%er it9+1 +Al Mahdi took the letter and lau$hed/ he then said7 1(t is true7 this is my writin$ and this is my seal" 'hall ( relate how it happened81 To this we replied7 1(f it please the Commander of the ;aithful"1 Then he said7 1( went out to hunt yesterday e%enin$ when the shower was o%er" The ne0t mornin$ a thick mist o%erwhelmed us, and ( lost si$ht of my companions/ ( then suffered such cold, hun$er, and thirst as -od only knows, and ( lost my way besides" At that moment came to my mind a form of prayer which my father, Al Mansur, had tau$ht me, sayin$ that his father, Muhammad, had learned it from his $randfather, ali, who had been tau$ht it by his father, Abd allah, the son of Abbas" (t was this7 +(n the name of -od,+ and +=y the mi$ht of -od9 We ha%e no power or force but in -od9 ( fly to -od for protection9 ( confide in -od7 -od sufficeth me9 He protecteth, sufficeth, directeth, and healeth, from fire and food, from the fall of house, and from e%il death9+ A1When ( had uttered these words, -od raised up a li$ht before me, and ( went toward it, and lo9 ( found this %ery Arab of the desert in his tent, with a fire which he had been .ust li$htin$ up" +Arab of the desert,+ said (, +hast thou withal to treat a $uest8+ +Dismount9+ said he" Then ( dismounted, and he said to his wife7 +=rin$ here that barley+/ and she brou$ht it" +-rind it,+ said he/ and she be$an to $rind it" ( then said to him7 +-i%e me a drink of water+/ and he brou$ht me a skin in which was a little milk mi0ed with water, and

( drank thereof a drink such as ( had ne%er drunk before, it was so sweet9 and he $a%e me one of his saddle3cloths, and ( laid my head on it, and ne%er did ( sleep a sounder sleep" A1*n awakin$, ( saw him sei>e on a poor miserable sheep and kill it, when his wife said to him7 +=eware, wretched man9 thou hast slain thyself and thy children/ our nourishment came from this sheep, and yet thou hast killed it9 What then ha%e we to li%e upon8+ *n this ( said7 +Do not mind" =rin$ the sheep here+/ and ( opened it with the knife ( wore in my boot, and ( took out the li%er, and ha%in$ split it open, ( placed it upon the fire and ( ate thereof" ( then said to him7 +Dost thou want anythin$8 ( shall $i%e thee a written order for it"+ *n this he brou$ht me that piece of leather, and ( wrote on it with a bit of burnt wood which ( picked up at his feet333that %ery note" ( then set this seal on it, and told him to $o and ask for one Ar3?abi, to whom he was to $i%e it"1 This note contained an order for fi%e hundred thousand dirhems, and Al Mahdi e0claimed on hearin$ it7 1=y allah9 ( meant only fifty thousand, but since fi%e hundred thousand are written in it, ( shall not diminish the sum one sin$le dirhem/ and were there no more in the treasury, he should ha%e it" 'o $i%e him beasts of burden, and let him take it away"1 +(n a %ery short time that Arab had numerous flocks of camels and sheep, and his dwellin$ became a haltin$3place for those who were $oin$ on the pil$rima$e, and it recei%ed the name of the 1Dwellin$ of the host of Al Mahdi, the Commander of the ;aithful"1+ *n another occasion it is recorded that Al Mahdi went out huntin$, and his horse ran away with him until he came to the hut of an Arab" And the Caliph cried7 +* Arab9 hast thou wherewith to feed a $uest8+ The Arab replied, +<es,+ and produced for him a barley loaf, which Al Mahdi ate/ then he brou$ht some wine in a bottle, and $a%e him to drink" And when Al Mahdi had drunk it, he said +* brother of the Arabs, dost thou know who ( am8+ +6o, by allah,+ he replied" +( am one of the personal attendants of the Commander of the ;aithful,+ said Al Mahdi" +May allah prosper thee in thy situation9+ returned the Arab" Then he poured out a second $lass, and when Al Mahdi had drunk it, he cried7 +* Arab, dost thou know who ( am8+ He answered7 +Thou hast stated that thou art one of the personal attendants of the Commander of the ;aithful"+ +6o,+ said Al Mahdi, +but ( am one of the chief officers of the Commander of the ;aithful"+ +May thy country be enlar$ed and thy wishes fulfilled9+ e0claimed the Arab" Then he poured out a third $lass for him, and when Al Mahdi had drained it, he said7 +* Arab9 dost thou know who ( am8+ The man replied7 +Thou hast made me belie%e thou art one of the chief officers of the Commander of the ;aithful"+ +6ot so,+ said Al Mahdi, +but ( am the Commander of the ;aithful himself"+ Then the Arab took the bottle and put it away and said7 +=y allah9 wert thou to drink the fourth, thou wouldst declare thyself to be Mohammed the ,rophet of -od9+ Then Al Mahdi lau$hed 1till he could lau$h no more" And lo9 the horsemen surrounded them, and the ,rinces and nobles dismounted before him, and the heart of the Arab stood still" =ut Al Mahdi said to him7 +;ear not9 thou hast done no wron$"+ And he ordered a robe and a sum of money to be $i%en him"

Al Mahdi and His :i>ier <akub ibn Daud

When Al Mahdi1s father, Al Mansur, died, he left in the treasury nine hundred million and si0ty thousand dirhems, and Abu *baid allah, the first :i>ier of Al Mahdi, ad%ised the Caliph to be moderate in his e0penses and to spare the public money" When Abu *baid allah was deposed, his successor, <akub ibn Daud, flattered the inclinations of the Caliph, and encoura$ed him to spend money, en.oy all sorts of pleasures, drink wine, and listen to music" =y this means he succeeded in obtainin$ the entire administration of the 'tate" *ne of the poets of the time composed an ode containin$ the followin$ lines7 +;amily of Abbas9 your Caliphate is ruined9 (f you seek for the :icar of -od, you will find him with a wineflask on one side and a lute on the other"+ Abu Haritha, the $uardian of the treasure chambers, seein$ that they had become empty, waited on Al Mahdi with the keys, and said7 +'ince you ha%e spent all your treasures, what is the use of my keepin$ these keys8 -i%e orders that they be taken from me"+ Al Mahdi replied7 +)eep them still, for money will be comin$ in to you"+ He then dispatched messen$ers to all &uarters in order to press the payment of the re%enues, and in a %ery short time these sums arri%ed" They were so abundant that Abu Haritha had enou$h to do in recei%in$ them and %erifyin$ the amount" Durin$ three days he did not appear before Al Mahdi, who at len$th said7 +What is he about, that silly =edouin Arab8+ =ein$ informed of the cause which kept him away, he sent for him and said7 +What pre%ented your comin$ to see us8+ +The arri%al of cash,+ replied the other" +How foolish it was in you,+ said Al Mahdi, +to suppose that money would not come in to us9+ +Commander of the ;aithful,+ replied Abu Haritha, +if some unforeseen e%ent happened which could not be surmounted without the aid of money, we should not ha%e time to wait till you sent to ha%e the cash brou$ht in"+ (t is related that Al Mahdi made the pil$rima$e one year, and passed by a milestone on which he saw somethin$ written" He stopped to see what it was, and read the followin$ line7 +* Mahdi9 you would be truly e0cellent if you had not taken for a fa%orite <akub, the son of Daud"+ He then said to a person who was with him7 +Write underneath that7 1(t shall still be so, in spite of the fellow who wrote that3bad luck attend him91+ *n his return from the pi#$rima$e, he stopped at the same milestone, because the %erse had probably made an impression on his mind/ and such, in fact, appears to ha%e been the case, for %ery soon after he let his %en$eance fall on <akub" ?umors unfa%orable to this minister had $reatly multiplied" His enemies had disco%ered a point by which he mi$ht be attacked, and they reminded the Caliph of his ha%in$ seconded (bn Abd allah the alide in the re%olt a$ainst Al Mansur" *ne of <akub1s ser%ants informed Al Mahdi that he had heard his master say7 +The Caliph has built a pleasure3house, and spent on it fifty millions of dirhems out of the public money"+ The fact was that Al Mahdi had .ust founded the town of (sabad" Another time Al Mahdi was about to e0ecute some pro.ect when <akub said to him7 +Commander of the ;aithful, that is mere profusion"+ To this Al Mahdi answered7 +2%il betide you9 does not profusion befit persons of a noble race8+ At last <akub $ot so tired of the post which he filled that he re&uested of Al Mahdi permission to $i%e it up, but that fa%or he could not obtain" Al Mahdi then wished to try if he was still inclined toward the party of the alides, and sent for him, after takin$ his seat in a salon of which all the furniture was red" He himself had on red clothes, and behind him stood a youn$ female sla%e dressed in red/ before him was a $arden filled with roses of all sorts" +Tell me, <akub,+ said he, +what do you think of this salon of ours8+ The other

replied7 +(t is the %ery perfection of beauty" May -od permit the Commander of the ;aithful to en.oy it lon$9+ +Well,+ said Al Mahdi, +all that it contains is yours, with this $irl to crown your happiness, and, moreo%er, a sum of one hundred thousand dirhems"+ <akub in%oked -od1s blessin$ on the Caliph, who then said to him7 +( ha%e somethin$ to ask of you"+ *n this, <akub stood up from his seat, and e0claimed7 +Commander of the ;aithful, such words can only proceed from an$er" May -od protect me from your wrath"+ Al Mahdi replied7 +( wish you to promise to do what ( ask"+ <akub answered7 +( hear, and shall obey"+ +'wear by allah,+ said the Caliph" He swore" +'wear a$ain by allah"+ He swore" +'wear a$ain by allah"+ He swore for the third time, and the Caliph then said to him7 +@ay your hand on my head and swear a$ain"+ <akub did so" Al Mahdi, ha%in$ thus obtained from him the firmest promise that could be made, said7 +There is an alide, and ( wish you to deli%er me from the uneasiness which he causes me, and thus set my mind at rest" Here he is/ ( $i%e him up to you"+ He then deli%ered the alide o%er to him, and bestowed on him the $irl, with all the furniture that was in the salon and the money" When the alide was alone with him, he said7 +<akub, beware lest you ha%e my blood to answer for before -od" ( am descended from ;atima, the dau$hter of Mohammed, on whom -od1s blessin$s and fa%ors always repose"+ To this <akub replied7 +Tell me, sir, if there be $ood in you"+ The alide answered7 +(f you do $ood to me, ( shall be $rateful and pray for your happiness"+ +?ecei%e the money,+ said <akub, +and take whate%er road you like"+ +'uch a road,+ said the alide, namin$ it, +is the safest"+ +Depart with my $ood wishes,+ said <akub" The $irl heard all this con%ersation, and told a ser%ant of hers to $o and relate it to Al Mahdi, and to say in her name7 +'uch is the conduct of one whom in $i%in$ me to him you preferred to yourself/ such is the return he makes you for your kindness"+ Al Mahdi immediately had the road watched, so that the alide was taken prisoner" He then sent for <akub, and said to him7 +What has become of that man8+ <akub replied7 +( ha%e deli%ered you from the uneasiness he $a%e you"+ +(s he dead8+ +He is"+ +'wear by allah"+ +( swear by allah"+ +@ay your hand upon my head"+ <akub did so, and swore by his head" Al Mahdi then said to an attendant7 +=oy, brin$ out to us those who are in that room"+ The boy opened the door, and there the alide was seen with the %ery money which <akub had $i%en him" <akub was so much astounded that he was unable to utter a word" +<our life,+ said Al Mahdi, +is .ustly forfeited, and it is in my power to shed your blood, but ( will not" 'hut him up in the matbak"+ He had him confined in that dun$eon, and $a%e orders that no one should e%er speak to him or to any other about him" <akub remained there durin$ the rest of Al Mahdi1s rei$n 4o%er two years5, and durin$ the rei$n of Musa3al3Hadi, the son of Al Mahdi, and durin$ fi%e years and se%en months of the rei$n of Haroun Al ?ashid"

Al Mahdi and the ,oet Abu1l Atahiyah 'ome historians relate that the poet Abu1l Atahiyah had concei%ed a passion for *tbah, the sla%e of )hay>uran, the chief wife of the Caliph" This youn$ $irl complained to her mistress of the $ossip to which this affair $a%e rise" *ne day Al Mahdi found her seated near her mistress in tears" He &uestioned her, and ha%in$ disco%ered the cause of her $rief, sent for Abu1l Atahiyah" When the poet came and stood before him, Al Mahdi said to him7 +<ou are the author of this %erse concernin$ *tbah7 1May -od .ud$e between me and my

mistress, since she shows me nothin$ but disdain and reproach91+ He then continued7 +What kindness has *tbah e%er shown you that you ha%e the ri$ht to complain of her disdainfulness8+ +'ire,+ answered Abu1l Atahiyah, +( am not the author of that %erse, but of these7 +1* my camel, carry me rapidly/ be not be$uiled by what thou deemest repose333 Carry me to a ,rince to whom -od has $i%en the $ift of workin$ miracles/ 1,rince who, when the wind rises, says, +* wind, hast thou partaken of my benefits8+ Two crowns adorn his brow 333the crown of beauty and the diadem of humility"++ Al Mahdi sat silent for some time, lookin$ at the $round which he tapped with his staff/ then he lifted his head and continued7 +<ou ha%e also said7 +1What does my mistress think upon when she displays her charms and allurements8 There is amon$ the sla%es of ,rinces a youn$ $irl who conceals beneath her %eil =eauty itself"1 +How do you know what she conceals beneath her %eil8+ the Caliph asked" Abu1l Atahiyah replied in the same datterin$ style7 +?oyalty has come to do him obeisance, and trailin$ her robe ma.estically, 'he only is fit for him, as he for her"+ =ut as the Caliph continued to ply him with &uestions Abu1l Atahiyah became embarrassed in his answers, and was condemned to e0piate his temerity by a flo$$in$" He had .ust under$one his punishment when *tbah met him in this piteous pli$ht" The poet reproached her thus7 +,raise be to thee, *tbah9 (t is because of thee that the Caliph has shed the blood of a man already dyin$ of lo%e"+ Tears started to *tbah1s eyes/ she ran sobbin$ to her mistress, )hay>uran, and there met the Caliph" He asked why she wept, and hearin$ she had seen the poet after his fla$ellation, consoled her/ then he caused a sum of fifty thousand dirhems to be $i%en to the former" Abu1l Atahiyah distributed them to all those whom he met in the palace" Al Madhi, bein$ informed of his $enerosity, asked him why he had thus disposed of the money he had .ust recei%ed from the Caliph" The poet answered7 +( did not wish to profit by what my lo%e had won"+ Al Mahdi sent him fifty thousand more dirhems, makin$ him swear not to employ them in fresh benefactions" Another historian relates that Abu1l Atahiyah, on a certain 6ew <ear1s Day, presented Al Mahdi with a Chinese %ase containin$ perfumes" *n the %ase were en$ra%ed these %erses7 +My soul is attached to one of the $ood thin$s of this world/ the accomplishment of its desires depends on -od and Al Mahdi, his :icar" ( despair of obtainin$ my ob.ect,

but thy contempt of the world and all which it contains reanimates my hope"+ The Caliph thou$ht of $i%in$ him *tbah, when she said to him" +,rince of the belie%ers9 would you, in spite of my pri%ile$es, my ri$hts, and my ser%ices, bestow me upon a pottery merchant333a man who makes money out of his poetry8+ Al Mahdi then sent a messa$e to the poet7 +As to *tbah, you will ne%er obtain her, but ( ha%e ordered the %ase you sent to be filled with money"+ 'oon afterward *tbah, passin$ by, found the poet disputin$ with the clerks of the treasury, and maintainin$ that by +money+ the Caliph meant $old dinars, while they alle$ed that he only intended sil%er dirhems" +(f you really lo%ed *tbah,+ she said to him, +you would not think of the difference between $old and sil%er"+

Death of Al Mahdi Tabari, the historian, describes the death of Al Mahdi as takin$ place in the followin$ tra$ic manner7 Amon$ his wi%es there were two for whom he seems to ha%e entertained an e&ual de$ree of affection/ but as one of them seemed to the other to ha%e the preference in his heart, the latter, whose name was Hassanna, concei%ed a bitter .ealousy a$ainst her ri%al, and determined to be a%en$ed on her" (n order to accomplish her purpose, she prepared a dish of confectionery, in which she mi0ed a mali$nant poison, and sent it as an offerin$ to her ri%al" As the damsel who was dispatched upon the errand happened to pass beneath one of the balconies of the palace, Al Mahdi, who was watchin$ the sunset, saw her" The confectionery, which was unco%ered, attractin$ his notice, he asked the messen$er whither she was bound" 'he ha%in$ informed him, he took and ate heartily of it, sayin$7 +Hassanna will, ( am sure, be better pleased that ( should partake of her sweets than any one else"+ (n a few hours he was a corpse"

The Caliph Haroun Al ?ashid Haroun Al ?ashid became Caliph in the year A"D" AB, and he ranks amon$ the Caliphs who ha%e been most distin$uished by elo&uence, learnin$, and $enerosity" Durin$ the whole of his rei$n he performed the pil$rima$e to Mecca or carried on war with the unbelie%ers nearly e%ery year" His daily prayers e0ceeded the number fi0ed by the law, and he used to perform the pil$rima$e on foot, an act which no pre%ious Caliph had done" When he went on pil$rima$e he took with him a hundred learned men and their sons, and when he did not perform it himself he sent three hundred substitutes, whom he appareled richly, and whose e0penses he defrayed with $enerosity" His conduct $enerally resembled that of the Caliph Mansur, but he did not imitate the parsimony of the latter" He always repaid ser%ices done to him, and that without much delay" He was fond of poetry and poets, and patroni>ed literary and learned men" ?eli$ious contro%ersies were hateful to him" 2ulo$y he relished hi$hly, especially eulo$y by $ifted poets, whom he richly rewarded"

The historian Asmai relates the followin$ anecdote7 *ne day the Caliph $a%e a feast in a ma$nificently decorated hall" Durin$ the feast he sent for the poet Abu1l Atahiyah, and commanded him to depict in %erse the $or$eous scene" The poet be$an7 +@i%e, * Caliph, in the fulfilment of all thy desire, in the shelter of thy lofty palace9+ +:ery $ood9+ e0claimed ?ashid" +@et us hear the rest"+ The poet continued7 +2ach morn and e%e be all thy ser%itors swift to e0ecute thy behests9+ +20cellent9+ said the Caliph" +-o on9+ The poet replied7 +=ut when the death3rattle chokes thy breath thou wilt learn, alas9 that all thy deli$hts were a shadow"+ ?ashid burst into tears" ;adhl, the son of <ahya 4Haroun1s :i>ier5, seein$ this, said to the poet7 +The Caliph sent for you to di%ert him, and you ha%e plun$ed him into melancholy"+ +@et him be,+ said ?ashid/ +he saw us in a state of blindness, and tried to open our eyes"+ This ,rince treated learned men with $reat re$ard" Abou Moawia, one of the most learned men of his time, related that when he was sittin$ one day at food with the Caliph, the latter poured water on his hands after the meal, and said to him7 +Abou Moawia, do you know who has .ust washed your hands8+ He answered7 +6o"+ ?ashid informed him that it was himself" Abou Moawia replied7 +,rince, you doubtless act in this manner in order to do homa$e to learnin$"+ +<ou speak truth,+ answered ?ashid" (brahim Mouseli relates the followin$ story7 +?ashid one day summoned all his musicians" ( and Meskin of Medina were amon$ the performers" ?ashid had partaken freely of wine, and wished to hear performed an air which had suddenly occurred to his mind" The officer stationed before the curtain which concealed the Caliph told (bn Tami to sin$ this piece" The latter obeyed, but did not succeed in pleasin$ the Caliph" 2ach of the sin$ers present attempted it, but were no more successful than (bn Jami" Then the officer, addressin$ Meskin, said7 1The Commander of the ;aithful orders you to sin$ this air if you can do it properly"1 +Meskin commenced at once to sin$, to the $reat surprise of the audience, who could not understand how a musician like him had the coura$e to attempt before us an air which none of us had been able to render to the satisfaction of the Caliph" As soon as he had finished ( heard ?ashid raise his %oice and ask to hear it a second time" Meskin recommenced with a skill and spirit which won him e%erybody1s applause" The Caliph con$ratulated and praised him to the skies/ then he had the curtain behind which he had been sittin$ drawn aside" +1,rince of the belie%ers,1 then said Meskin to him, 1a stran$e story attaches to this piece1/ and at the in%itation of the Caliph he narrated it in these words7 1( was formerly a sla%e of a member of the family of Cobeir, and carried on the trade of a tailor" My master claimed from me a ta0 of two dirhems daily, after payin$ which ( was free to do what ( liked" ( was passionately fond of sin$in$" *ne day a descendant of ali, for whom ( had .ust completed a tunic, paid me two dirhems for it, kept me to eat with him, and made me drink $enerously" As ( left him ( met a ne$ress carryin$ her pitcher on her shoulder, and sin$in$ the son$ you ha%e .ust heard" ( was so deli$hted at it that, for$ettin$ e%erythin$ else, ( said to her7 +=y the ,rophet, ( ad.ure thee to teach me that air"+ +=y the ,rophet,+ she answered, +( will not teach it unless you pay me two dirhems"+ +1Then, ,rince of belie%ers, ( took out the two dirhems, with which ( had intended to pay my daily ta0, and $a%e them to the ne$ress" 'he, settin$ her pitcher down, sat on the $round

and, keepin$ time with her fin$ers on the pitcher, san$ the piece, and repeated it till it was well impressed on my memory" ( then proceeded to my master" As soon as he saw me he demanded his two dirhems, and ( related my ad%enture to him" +'coundrel9+ he said" +Ha%e ( not warned you that ( will take no e0cuse, e%en if a farthin$ is missin$8+ 'ayin$ this, he laid me on the $round and, with the utmost %i$or of his arm, $a%e me fifty strokes of a rod, and, as an additional dis$race, caused my head and chin to be sha%ed" :erily, * ,rince, ( passed a melancholy ni$ht" The se%ere punishment ( had under$one made me for$et the piece ( had learned, and this was the saddest of all" (n the mornin$, wrappin$ my head in a cloak, ( hid my lar$e tailor1s scissors in my slee%e, and directed my steps to the spot where ( had met the ne$ress" ( waited there in perple0ity, not knowin$ her name nor her abode" all at once ( saw her comin$/ the si$ht of her dispersed all my cares" ( approached her, and she said to me7 +=y the @ord of the )aaba, you ha%e for$otten the son$9+ +<es, ( ha%e,+ ( answered" ( told her how my head and chin had been sha%ed, and offered her a reward if she would sin$ her son$ a$ain" +=y the ,rophet,+ she answered, +( will not for less than two dirhems"+ +1( took out my scissors and ran and pawned them for two dirhems, which ( $a%e her" 'he put down her pitcher, and be$an to sin$ as she had done the e%enin$ before/ but as soon as she be$an, ( said7 +-i%e me back the two dirhems/ ( don1t need your son$"+ +=y allah,+ she said, +you shall not see them a$ain/ don1t think it"+ Then she added7 +( am certain that the four dirhems you ha%e spent will be worth to you four thousand dinars from the hand of the Caliph"+ Then she resumed her son$, accompanyin$ herself, as before, on her pitcher, and did not cease repeatin$ it till ( had $ot it by heart" +1We separated" ( returned to my master, but in a state of $reat apprehension" When he saw me he demanded his daily due, while ( stammered out e0cuses" +=east9+ he shouted, +was not yesterday1s lesson enou$h for you8+ +( wish to speak to you frankly and without falsehood,+ ( answered" +<esterday1s and today1s dirhems went in payment for a son$+/ and ( be$an to sin$ it to him" +What9+ he e0claimed, +you ha%e known an air like that for two days and told me nothin$ of it8 May my wife be di%orced if it is not true that ( would ha%e let you $o yesterday if you had sun$ it to me9 <our head and chin ha%e been sha%ed333 ( can not help that333but ( let you off your ta0 till your hair $rows a$ain"1+ +Hearin$ this recital, ?ashid lau$hed heartily, and said to the musician7 1( don1t know which is better, your son$ or your story/ ( will see in my turn that the forecast of the ne$ress is %erified"1 'o Meskin went out from the Caliph1s presence richer by four thousand dinars"+

The =armecides, :i>iers of Haroun Al ?ashid *n attainin$ the Caliphate, ?ashid conferred the :i>iership on <ahya, son of )haled, son of =armec" <ahya had ser%ed him as secretary before his accession to the throne, and this was the foundation of the ma$nificence of the family of the =armecides, whose commencement and whose tra$ic fall we are about to narrate" The family of the =armecides had ori$inally been Carathustrians in reli$ion, but from the time of their embracin$ (slam they continued to be $ood Muslims" They were the crown and ornament of their a$e" Their $enerosity passed into a pro%erb/ adherents thron$ed to

their court from e%ery side, and multitudes centered their hopes on them" ;ortune showered upon them a prodi$ality of fa%ors" <ahya and his sons were like brilliant stars, %ast oceans, impetuous torrents, beneficent showers" 2%ery kind of talent and learnin$ was represented in their court, and men of worth recei%ed a hearty welcome there" The world was re%i%ed under their administration, and the empire reached its culminatin$ point of splendor" They were a refu$e for the afflicted and a ha%en for the distressed" The poet Abou36owas said of them7 +'ince the world has lost you, * sons of =armec, we no lon$er see the ways crowded with tra%elers at sunrise and sunset"+ We ha%e an e0ample of the $enerosity of the =armecides in the followin$ story, related by 'alih bin Muhran, one of the intimate attendants of Haroun Al ?ashid7 +*ne day Haroun sent for me, and when ( arri%ed in his presence ( saw that he was %e0ed and perple0ed, and full of thou$ht, and %ery much enra$ed" When ( stood still awhile he lifted up his head, and said7 1-o this moment to Mansur =in Ciyad, and before ni$ht thou must ha%e from him ten thousand thousand dirhems, and, if not, cut off his head and brin$ it to me/ and if thou fail in this, ( swear by the soul of Madhi ( will command thy head to be se%ered from thy body"1 ( said7 1May the life of the Commander of the ;aithful be prolon$ed9 (f he $i%es a part today, and sends somewhat more tomorrow on the condition that he $i%es me a pled$e for the payment of the whole3331 He replied7 16o9 (f he does not $i%e thee today ten thousand thousand dirhems in coined money, brin$ me his head" What concern hast thou in this matter81 When he said this ( knew he was aimin$ at the life of Mansur, and ( went out from him in $reat perple0ity and distress, sayin$, 1* @ord, what has come to me8 (t will be needful to slay Mansur, and he is one of the most worthy and best3known men of =a$hdad, and has a numerous followin$"1 +At len$th ( went to the house of Mansur, and, takin$ him on one side, told him the whole story as it had happened, and what my commands were" When he heard he wept aloud, and fell at my feet, sayin$7 1(n truth the Commander of the ;aithful seeks my life/ for his courtiers and many others know there is no such sum in my house" 6or could ( in my whole life brin$ to$ether so much/ how, then, can ( do it in one day8 =ut do thou show me one fa%or, for -od1s sake7 take me to my house, that ( may bid farewell to my children and followers and clansmen, and ask for$i%eness of my of fenses from my companions and ac&uaintances"1 +( took him to his house, as he desired, and when his family and chief friends heard what had happened there was an outcry amon$ them" They wept and bewailed so that .inns and men, and wild beasts and birds, were sorrowful for them, and my heart burned to see them" At last he brou$ht out what money and %aluables he had, amountin$ to two million dirhems, and $a%e it to me, sayin$7 1(n days past, before Haroun Al ?ashid was Caliph, ( often %e0ed <ahya the =armecide, and durin$ this present rei$n also he suffered much annoyance and persecution from me" =ut on a certain occasion he treated me with kindness, and put my hand in his, and ( knew that he had for$i%en my fault, and that there was no feelin$ of re%en$e remainin$ in his heart/ and afterward he did me many kindnesses with the Caliph" (f thou wilt deal kindly with me333his house is at the head of the way333take me there" (t may be his heart will be touched for me/ for all the members of his house are men of liberality and they desire that e%en their enemy and ill3wisher may take refu$e with them, that they may help him in his distress and misery"1 +( said7 1Thou speakest truly, and it will be a deli$ht to myself to take thee there" Come, let us $o" =y allah the Most Hi$h, it must needs be they will cause thee to re.oice"1 When we

arri%ed at the house of <ahya, he had .ust finished the afternoon prayer, and was repeatin$ the Tesbih" When he saw Mansur, and he had e0plained to him his distress and misery, <ahya came up to me and in&uired of me the state of the case, which ( re%ealed to him" He comforted Mansur, and bade him keep up his heart/ 1;or,1 said he, 1( will not be wantin$ in doin$ all that is in my power to help thee"1 At the same time he called his treasurer, and said to him7 1=rin$ me all that is in the treasury"1 The treasurer brou$ht all that he had of coined money and .ewels, and the amount was two hundred thousand dirhems" +Then he wrote a letter to his eldest son, ;adhl, biddin$ him send what money he had, for that an unfortunate man was waitin$ for it" When ;adhl had read the note, he immediately sent two hundred thousand dirhems" Then he wrote a note to Jafar, his youn$er son, biddin$ him send immediately all the money he had" He also sent three hundred thousand dirhems" Then he said to me7 1Take this money to the Commander of the ;aithful, and represent to him that ( will send tomorrow three million dirhems more into his treasury"1 ( replied7 1This is not in my orders" Today, by the hour of e%enin$ prayer, ( must be in the presence of the Caliph with the $old or the head"1 +When <ahya heard this he sent for his sla%e *tbah, and bade her $o to ;atima, the sister of the Commander of the ;aithful, and to e0plain the case to her" When *tbah had told ;atima how the matter stood, that lady, who was a woman of much $enerosity, took off a collar set with .ewels which she had recei%ed from the Caliph, of which the %alue was estimated at two hundred thousand dinars of $old, and sent it to <ahya, askin$ besides a thousand pardons that she could do no more" +When at last the ten million of dirhems was raised, <ahya deli%ered it all to porters, and sent it by me to the Caliph" (t was near the settin$ of the sun when ( brou$ht the money to Haroun Al ?ashid" When he saw me, he cried7 1Hast thou brou$ht Mansur81 ( told him all that had passed, whereupon he bade me send the money to the treasury and $o for <ahya" When ( had placed the money in the treasury, ( went to <ahya and told him that the Caliph had accepted the money, and wished to see him" He broke out into e0clamations of $ladness when he heard this, and, callin$ for Mansur, he said7 1Take coura$e, for thou art sa%ed from destruction" The Commander of the ;aithful has .ust asked for me, and ( will so contri%e as to render him a$ain fa%orably disposed toward thee"1 +Then Mansur1s soul a$ain returned to his body, and he thanked <ahya fer%ently" When <ahya arri%ed in the presence of the Caliph and saw his face a%erted, he was afraid/ for he thou$ht7 1,erchance he will repro%e me for my want of respect in releasin$ Mansur"1 'o, after some time, he prayed for pardon of his offense, and conciliated the Caliph" Afterward he said7 1Wilt thou tell me what was the crime of which Mansur was $uilty81 The Caliph replied7 1His crime was his enmity a$ainst you and his e%il3speakin$ concernin$ you" ;or this reason ( ha%e lon$ wished to strike off his head" Today ( was so incensed that ( commanded either that he should pay this money or that his head should be cut off" =ut thou hast done as the $enerous always do"1 <ahya said7 1May the life of the Commander of the ;aithful be lon$9 ;or if the Commander of the ;aithful had said, +The wealth of <ahya and his sons is of my $ift, and this necklace, too, of my sister1s is a $ift of mine" What has any one to do in this matter8 -o and cut off Mansur1s head,+ what could he ha%e done and what could ( ha%e done81 +This speech pleased Haroun Al ?ashid, but he blamed <ahya because he had asked for his sister1s necklace, and sent it to the treasury to meet the demand on Mansur" He also

blamed his sister for $i%in$ away the necklace" 'he replied7 1(t would ha%e been shame if ( had not answered the re&uest of one who was in the place of a father to me"1 This reply pleased the Caliph, and he restored to ;atima the .eweled collar, and <ahya and Mansur were a$ain $lad at heart"+

The ;all of the =armecides Haroun Al ?ashid had such an e0traordinary affection to Jafar the =armecide that he could not bear to be one hour apart from him" ?ashid lo%ed his own sister Abbasah also with an e0treme affection, and could not bear to be lon$ absent from her" 'he was a woman of e0traordinary beauty, and e0ceeded all in science and knowled$e" Cobeidah, who was the chief fa%orite of the Caliph, and all her dependents were opposed to Abbasah" *ne day ?ashid said to Jafar7 +Thou knowest how $reat is my affection to thee, and also how $reatly ( lo%e my sister Abbasah, and that ( can not li%e without the company of either of you" ( ha%e thou$ht of an e0pedient whereby you may both accompany me in the same assembly333that a marria$e take place between you" That will le$ali>e your meetin$ and authori>e your beholdin$ one another" =ut all this is on condition that you ne%er meet e0cept ( am a third in the party"+ When Jafar heard this, the world on all sides $rew black with darkness to his eyes" Distressed and confounded, he fell at the feet of ?ashid, and said7 +Commander of the ;aithful, wilt thou slay me8 ;rom the time of Adam to our day no ser%ant has been admitted to such confidence as that he should marry with the family of his lords and benefactors/ or if any one hath treacherously ima$ined such a thin$, %ery shortly he hath been reduced to nothin$ness, and all men ha%e counted him a bread3and3salt traitor" And what sin hath thy sla%e committed, * Commander of the ;aithful, that thou shouldest seek after his blood8 (s this the reward of all my ser%ices and de%otion8 And, besides, how should (, the son of a ,ersian fire3worshiper, be allied to the family of Hashem and the nephews of the ,rophet333may the mercy of -od be upon him and his family9333and by what ri$ht can ( aspire to such a distinction8 (f my father and mother heard of this, they would mourn for me, and my enemies would re.oice"+ 'ome days passed, and he neither ate nor drank, but all was of no a%ail" He could not oppose the decrees of hea%en and the ordainment of -od by remedy or contri%ance" Dnable to help himself, he submitted and consented to a marria$e on the terms before mentioned" When <ahya, the father of Jafar and ;adhl, and his other brothers heard of this, they were full of sorrow, and looked for the re%ersal of their fortune and the downfall of their power" These forebodin$s were soon .ustified" The cruel commands of ?ashid to his fa%orite and his sister were disre$arded, and Abbasah became a mother" The birth of the child, concealed for a time, was re%ealed to ?ashid by a %en$eful sla%e3$irl whom Abbasah had struck" The Caliph was intensely wroth, but concealed his indi$nation for a time, thou$h betrayin$ it at un$uarded moments" Ahmed =in Muhammad Wasil, who was one of his confidential attendants, relates as follows7 +*ne day ( was standin$ before ?ashid in his pri%ate apartment when no one besides was there" ,erfumes were burnin$, and the place was filled with sweet odors"

Haroun Al ?ashid lay down to rest, and wrapped his head in the skirt of his $arment to keep his eyes cool, when Jafar the =armecide came in and told his business to the Caliph, recei%in$ in return a $racious answer, and retirin$" (n those days the story of Abbasah and her union with ;afar was talked of currently amon$ the people" +When Jafar was $one ?ashid lifted his head out of his skirt, and from his mouth came these words7 1* -od, do thou so fa%or Jafar the =armecide that he may kill me, or make me &uickly powerful o%er him that ( may cut off his head from his body/ for with an$er and .ealousy a$ainst him ( am near to destruction"1 These words he spoke to himself but they reached my ears, and ( trembled within and without, and ( said to myself7 1(f the Commander of the ;aithful knows that ( ha%e heard this, he will not lea%e me ali%e"1 +'uddenly Haroun Al ?ashid lifted up his head from its co%erin$, and said to me7 1Hast thou heard that which ( said to myself .ust now81 ( said7 1( ha%e not heard it"1 The Commander of the ;aithful said7 1There is no one but thyself here, and so truly as the censer is in thy hand, thou hast heard all" (f thou care for thy life, keep this secret concealed/ and if not, ( will strike off thy head"1 ( replied7 1May the life of the Commander of the ;aithful be lon$9 ( ha%e not heard any of these words"1 And with this the Caliph was satisfied"+ (t was not lon$ after this that the blow fell on the =armecides" *n his return from one of his pil$rima$es to Mecca, ?ashid came by water from Hira to Anbar, on the ?i%er 2uphrates" Here he in%ited the three brothers ;adhl, Jafar, and Mousa, to his presence, and, ha%in$ caressed them with e0traordinary cordiality, dismissed them once more to their &uarters, with rich khelats, the customary robe of honor" The Caliph withdrew to his apartments, and betook himself to his usual indul$ence in wine" (n a little time he sent one of his domestics to in&uire if Jafar was employed in the same way" ;indin$ that such was not the case, ?ashid sent his attendant a$ain to Jafar, ur$in$ him by the life of his master to imitate his e0ample without further delay, for that his wine seemed depri%ed of all its >est until he knew that his faithful Jafar partook of the same en.oyment" Jafar felt, howe%er, unaccountably alarmed and a%erse to such a $ratification, and, reluctantly withdrawin$ to his chamber, called for the wine" (t happened that he was attended by a fa%orite blind minstrel named Abou Caccar, to whom, after a few $oblets, he could not forbear from communicatin$ his apprehensions" The minstrel treated them as merely ima$inary, ur$ed his master to banish them from his thou$hts, and to resume his usual cheerfulness" =ut Jafar declared that he found it impossible to dispel the uneasiness which seemed to haunt him" About the hour of e%enin$ prayer another messen$er arri%ed from ?ashid with a present of nuts and sweetmeats for Jafar, as a relish to his wine, from his own table" When midni$ht came, ?ashid called for Mesrour, his fa%orite domestic, and directed him to brin$ Jafar and strike off his head" Mesrour proceeded accordin$ly, and enterin$ Jafar1s apartment while Abou Caccar was sin$in$ some Arabic %erses, stood suddenly at the head of Jafar, who started in%oluntarily at his appearance" Mesrour told him that he was summoned to attend the Caliph" Jafar entreated that he mi$ht be permitted to withdraw for a moment, to speak to the women of his family" This last indul$ence was withheld, Mesrour obser%in$ that any instructions which he had to communicate mi$ht as well be deli%ered where he was" This he was accordin$ly obli$ed to do, after which he accompanied Mesrour to his tent, on enterin$ which the latter immediately drew his sword" Jafar asked that the

Caliph1s instructions mi$ht be e0plained to him, and when he heard them, cautioned Mesrour to beware how he carried into e0ecution an order which had e%idently been $i%en under the influence of wine, lest, when their so%erei$n should be restored to himself, it mi$ht be followed by una%ailin$ repentance and remorse" He further ad.ured Mesrour by the memory of their past friendship that he would return to the Caliph1s presence, and re&uire his final commands" Mesrour yielded to these entreaties, and appeared before ?ashid, whom he found e0pectin$ his return" +(s this the head of Jafar8+ demanded the Caliph" +Jafar is at the door, my lord,+ replied Mesrour, with some trepidation" +( wanted not Jafar,+ said the Caliph sternly/ +( wanted his head"+ This sealed the fate of the unhappy fa%orite" Mesrour immediately withdrew, decapitated Jafar in the antechamber, and returned with his head, which he laid at the Caliph1s feet" He was then directed by ?ashid to keep that head by him till he should recei%e further orders" (n the meantime he was en.oined to proceed without delay and apprehend <ahya, his three sons, ;adhl, Muhammad, and Mousa, and his brother Muhammad" These commands were immediately carried into e0ecution" The head of Jafar was dispatched the ne0t day, to be suspended to a $ibbet on the brid$e of =a$dad, after which the Caliph continued his .ourney to ?akkah" 'tripped of all their wealth and honors, <ahya, his three sons, and his brother Muhammad, lan$uished in confinement until the former perished in prison" At first they were allowed some liberty, but subse&uently they e0perienced alternati%es of ri$or and rela0ation, accordin$ to the reports which reached ?ashid concernin$ them" He then confiscated the property of e%ery member of the family" (t is said that Mesrour was sent by him to the prison, and that he told the .ailor to brin$ ;adhl before him" When he was brou$ht out, Mesrour addressed him thus7 +The Commander of the ;aithful sends me to say that he ordered thee to make a true state ment of thy property, and that thou didst pretend to do so but he is assured that thou hast still $reat wealth in reser%e, and his orders to me are that, if thou dost not inform me where the money is, ( am to $i%e thee two hundred strokes of a whip" ( should therefore ad%ise thee not to prefer thy riches to thyself"+ *n this ;adhl looked up at him and said7 +=y allah, ( made no false statements/ and were the choice offered to me of bein$ sent out of the world or of recei%in$ a sin$le stroke of a whip, ( should prefer the former alternati%e333that the Commander of the ;aithful well knoweth, and thou also knowest full well that we maintained our reputation at the e0pense of our wealth" How, then, could we now shield our wealth at the e0pense of our bodies8 (f thou hast really $ot any orders, let them be e0ecuted"+ *n this Mesrour produced some whips, which he brou$ht with him rolled up in a napkin, and ordered his ser%ants to inflict on Al ;adhl two hundred stripes" They struck him with all their force, usin$ no moderation in their blows, so that they nearly killed him" There was in that place a man skilled in treatin$ wounds, who was called in to attend Al ;adhl" When he saw him he obser%ed that fifty strokes had been inflicted on him/ and when the others declared that two hundred had been $i%en, he asserted that his back bore the traces of fifty, and not more" He then told Al ;adhl that he must lie down on his back on a reed3 mat, so that they mi$ht tread on his breast" Al ;adhl shuddered at the proposal, but, ha%in$ at len$th $i%en his consent, they placed him on his back" The operator then trod on him, after which he took him by the arms and dra$$ed him alon$ the mat, by which means a

$reat &uantity of flesh was torn off the back" He then proceeded to dress the wounds, and continued his ser%ices re$ularly, till one day, when, on e0aminin$ them, he immediately prostrated himself in thanks$i%in$ to -od" They asked him what was the matter, and he replied that the patient was sa%ed, because new flesh was formin$" He then said7 +Did ( not say that he had recei%ed fifty strokes8 Well, by allah9 one thousand strokes could not ha%e left worse marks/ but ( merely said so that he mi$ht take coura$e, and thus aid my efforts to cure him"+ Al ;adhl, on his reco%ery, borrowed ten thousand dirhems from a friend, and sent them to the doctor, who returned them" Thinkin$ that he had offered too little, he borrowed ten thousand more/ but the man refused them, and said7 +( can not accept a fee for curin$ the $reatest amon$ the $enerous" Were it e%en twenty thousand dinars, ( should refuse them"+ When this was told to Al ;adhl, he declared that such an act of $enerosity surpassed all that he himself had done durin$ the whole course of his life" When ?ashid had o%erthrown the family of the =armecides, he endea%ored to obliterate e%en their %ery name" He forbade the poets to compose ele$ies on their fall, and commanded that those who did so should be punished" *ne day one of the soldiers of the $uard, passin$ near some ruined and abandoned buildin$s, percei%ed a man standin$ upri$ht with a paper in his hand" (t contained a lament for the ruin of the =armecides, which he was recitin$ with tears" The soldier arrested him, and conducted him to the palace of ?ashid" He related the whole matter to the Caliph, who caused the accused to be brou$ht before him" When he was con%inced by the man1s own confession of the truth of the accusation, he said to him7 +Did you not know that ( ha%e forbidden the utterance of any lament for the family of the =armecides8 Assuredly ( will treat thee accordin$ to thy deserts"+ +,rince,+ the accused answered, +if thou wilt allow, ( will relate my history" Afterward deal with me as thou pleasest"+ ?ashid ha%in$ allowed him to speak, he went on7 +( was one of the petty officials in the court of <ahya" *ne day he said to me7 1( must dine at your house"1 1My lord,1 ( said to him, 1( am far too mean for such an honor, and my house is not fit to recei%e you"1 16o,1 replied <ahya, 1( must come to you"1 1(n that case,1 ( said, 1will you allow me some time to make the proper arran$ements and put my house in order8 333and afterward do as you like"1 +He then wished to know how much time ( wanted" At first ( asked for a year" This appeared to him too much/ ( therefore asked for some months" He consented, and ( immediately be$an to prepare e%erythin$ necessary for his reception" When all the preparations were complete ( sent to inform <ahya, who said he would come on the morrow" *n the ne0t day, accordin$ly, he came, with his two sons Jafar and ;adhl and a few of his most intimate friends" 'carcely had he dismounted than he addressed me by name, and said7 1Make haste and $et me somethin$ to eat, for ( am hun$ry"1 ;adhl told me that his father was especially fond of roast fowl/ accordin$ly ( brou$ht some, and when <ahya had eaten he rose and be$an to walk about the house, and asked me to show him all o%er it" 1My lord,1 ( said, 1you ha%e .ust been o%er it7 there is no more"1 1Certainly there is more,1 he replied" +(t was in %ain that ( assured him, in the name of -od, that that was all ( had7 he had a mason sent for, and told him to make a hole in the wall" The mason be$an to do so" ( said

to <ahya7 1My @ord, is it permissible to make a hole into one1s nei$hbor1s house when -od has commanded us to respect our nei$hbors1 ri$hts81 16e%er mind,1 said he" And when the mason had made a sufficiently wide entrance, he went throu$h, with his sons" +( followed them, and we came into a delicious $arden, well planted and watered by fountains" (n this $arden were pa%ilions and halls adorned with all kinds of marbles and tapestry/ on all sides were numbers of beautiful sla%es of both se0es" <ahya then said to me7 1This house and all that you see is yours"1 ( hastened to kiss his hands and to pray -od to bless him, and then ( learned that from the %ery day he had told me that he was comin$ to my house he had bou$ht the $round ad.acent to it, and caused a beautiful mansion to be constructed, furnished, and adorned, without my knowin$ anythin$ of it" ( saw indeed that buildin$ was $oin$ on, but ( thou$ht it was some work bein$ carried on by one of my nei$hbors" +<ahya then, addressin$ his son Jafar, said to him7 1Well, here is a house, with attendants, but how is he to keep it up81 1( will make o%er to him such and such a farm, with its re%enues,1 answered Jafar, 1and si$n a contract with him to that effect"1 1:ery $ood,1 said <ahya, turnin$ to his other son, ;adhl/ 1but 1till he recei%es those re%enues, how is he to meet current e0penses81 1( will $i%e him ten thousand pieces of $old,1 answered ;adhl, 1and ha%e them con%eyed to his house"1 1=e &uick, then,1 said <ahya, 1and fulfil your promises without delay"1 This they both did, so that ( found myself rich of a sudden and li%in$ a life of ease" Thus, * Commander of the ;aithful, ( ha%e ne%er failed on all fittin$ occasions to rehearse their praises and to pray for them, in order to dischar$e my debt of $ratitude, but ne%er shall ( be able to do so completely" (f thou choosest, slay me for doin$ that"+ ?ashid was mo%ed at this recital, and let him $o" He also $a%e a $eneral permission to the poets to bewail the tra$ic end of the =armecides" A pathetic anecdote relatin$ to their fall is recorded by Muhammad, son of Abdur ?ahman the Hashimite" +Ha%in$ $one to %isit my mother on the day of the ;east of 'acrifice, ( found her talkin$ with an old woman of %enerable appearance, but meanly clad" My mother asked if ( knew her, and ( answered, 16o"1 'he replied7 1(t is Abbadah, the mother of Jafar =in <ahya"1 ( turned to her and saluted her with respect" After some time ( said to her7 1Madam, what is the stran$est thin$ you ha%e seen81 1My friend,1 she replied, 1there was once a time when this same festi%al saw me escorted by four hundred sla%es, and still ( thou$ht that my son was not sufficiently $rateful to me" Today the feast has returned, and all ( wish for is two sheepskins333one to lie down on and one to co%er me"1 +( $a%e her,+ adds the narrator, +fi%e hundred dirhems and she nearly died of .oy" 'he did not cease her %isits till the day death separated us"+ After the destruction of this family, the affairs of ?ashid fell into irretrie%able confusion" Treason, re%olt, and rebellion assailed him in different parts of the empire" He himself became a prey to disease, and was tortured by una%ailin$ remorse" (f any one blamed the =armecides in his presence he would say7 +Cease to blame them or fill the %oid"+ 'o $reat was the disaffection aroused by his treatment of them that he remo%ed the seat of $o%ernment from =a$dad to ?akkah, on the 2uphrates" <ahya, the father of Jafar and 2adhl, died in prison, A"D" AEF" *n his body was found a paper containin$ these words7 +The accuser has $one on before to the tribunal, and the accused shall follow" The Gadi will be that .ust Jud$e who ne%er errs and who needs no

witnesses"+ This, bein$ reported to ?ashid, deepened his $loom, which be$an to wear the appearance of madness" *ne mornin$ his physician, findin$ him $reatly discomposed, in&uired the reason" ?ashid replied7 +( will describe to thee what presented itself to my ima$ination" Methou$ht ( saw an arm suddenly e0tend itself from beneath my pillow, holdin$ in the palm of the hand, a &uantity of red earth, while a %oice addressed me in the followin$ words7 1Haroun, behold this handful of earth/ it is that in which they are about to bury thee"1 ( demanded to know where ( was about to find my $ra%e, and the %oice replied7 1At Tu>"1 The arm disappeared and ( awoke"+ 'hortly after this ?ashid, thou$h sufferin$ from the disease which was to end his life, set out to put down a rebellion in Transo0iana" When one of the captured rebel leaders was brou$ht into his presence, he ordered him to be cut to pieces limb by limb on the spot" When the e0ecution was o%er ?ashid fell into a swoon, and, on reco%erin$ himself, asked his physician if he did not recollect the dream which had occurred to him at ?akkah, for they were now in the nei$hborhood of Tu>" He also desired his chamberlain Mesrour to brin$ him a sample of the nati%e earth of the country" When Mesrour returned with his naked arm e0tended, ?ashid immediately e0claimed7 +=ehold the arm and the earth, precisely as they appeared in my dream9+ The Caliph died at midni$ht the followin$ 'aturday, March HI, A"D" AEJ"

The Caliph Al Mamoun When Haroun Al ?ashid died he left the empire to his sons 2min and Mamoun, $i%in$ the former (ra& and 'yria, and the latter )horassan and ,ersia" 2min had the title of Caliph, to which Mamoun was to succeed" War broke out between the brothers/ 2min fled from =a$hdad, but was captured and slain, and his head sent to Mamoun in )horassan, who wept at the si$ht of it" He had, howe%er, pre%iously, when his $eneral Tahir sent to him re&uestin$ to know what to do with 2min in case he cau$ht him, sent to the $eneral a shirt with no openin$ in it for the head" =y this Tahir knew that he wished 2min to be put to death, and acted accordin$ly" The Caliph, howe%er, bore a $rud$e a$ainst Tahir for the death of his brother, as was shown by the followin$ circumstance7 Tahir went one day to ask some fa%or from Al Mamoun/ the latter $ranted it, and then wept till his eyes were bathed in tears" +Commander of the ;aithful,+ said Tahir, +why do you weep8 May -od ne%er cause you to shed a tear9 The uni%erse obeys you, and you ha%e obtained your utmost wishes"+ +( weep not,+ replied the Caliph, +from any humiliation which may ha%e befallen me, neither do ( weep from $rief, but my mind is ne%er free from cares"+ These words $a%e $reat uneasiness to Tahir, and, on retirin$, he said to Husain, the eunuch who waited at the door of the Caliph1s pri%ate apartment7 +( wish you to ask the Commander of the ;aithful why he wept on seein$ me"+ *n reachin$ home Tahir sent Husain one hundred thousand dirhems" 'ome time afterward, when Al Mamoun was alone and in a $ood humor, Husain said to him7 +Why did you weep when Tahir came to see you8+ +What is that to you8+ replied the ,rince" +(t made me sad to see you weep,+ answered the eunuch" +( shall tell you the reason,+ the Caliph said/ +but if you e%er allow it to pass your lips, ( shall ha%e your head taken off"+ +* my master,+ the eunuch replied, +did ( e%er disclose any of your secrets8+ +( was thinkin$ of my brother 2min,+ said the

Caliph, +and of the misfortune which befell him, so that ( was nearly choked with weepin$/ but Tahir shall not escape me9 ( shall make him feel what he will not like"+ Husain related this to Tahir, who immediately rode off to the :i>ier Abi )halid, and said to him7 +( am not parsimonious in my $ratitude, and a ser%ice rendered to me is ne%er lost/ contri%e to ha%e me remo%ed away from Al Mamoun"+ +( shall,+ replied Abi )halid" +Come to me tomorrow mornin$"+ He then rode off to Al Mamoun, and said +( was not able to sleep last ni$ht"+ +Why so8+ asked the Caliph" +=ecause you ha%e entrusted -hassan with the $o%ernment of )horassan, and his friends are %ery few, and ( fear that ruin awaits him"+ +And whom do you think a proper person for it8+ said Al Mamoun" +Tahir,+ replied Abi )halid" +He is ambitious,+ obser%ed the Caliph" +( will answer for his conduct,+ said the other" Al Mamoun then sent for Tahir, and named him $o%ernor of )horassan on the spot/ he made him also a present of an eunuch, to whom he had .ust $i%en orders to poison his new master if he remarked anythin$ suspicious in his conduct" When Tahir was solidly established in his $o%ernment he ceased mentionin$ Al Mamoun1s name in the public prayers as the rei$nin$ Caliph" A dispatch was immediately sent off by e0press to inform Al Mamoun of the circumstance, and the ne0t mornin$ Tahir was found dead in his bed" (t is said that the eunuch administered the poison to him in some sauce" Al Mamoun placed his two sons under the tuition of Al ;arra, so that they mi$ht be instructed in $rammar" *ne day Al ;arra rose to lea%e the house, and the two youn$ princes hastened to brin$ his shoes" They stru$$led between themsel%es for the honor of offerin$ them to him, and they finally a$reed that each of them should present him with one slipper" As Al Mamoun had secret a$ents who informed him of e%erythin$ that passed, he learned what had taken place, and caused Al ;arra to be brou$ht before him" When he entered, the Caliph said to him7 +Who is the most honored of men8+ Al ;arra answered7 +( know not any one more honored than the Commander of the ;aithful"+ +6ay,+ replied Al Mamoun, +it is he who arose to $o out, and the two desi$nated successors of the Commander of the ;aithful contended for the honor of presentin$ him his slippers, and at len$th a$reed that each of them should offer him one"+ Al ;arra answered7 +Commander of the ;aithful, ( should ha%e pre%ented them from doin$ so had ( not been apprehensi%e of discoura$in$ their minds in the pursuit of that e0cellence to which they ardently aspire" We know by tradition that (bn Abbas held the stirrups of Hasan and Husain, when they were $ettin$ on horseback after payin$ him a %isit" *ne of those who were present said to him7 1How is it that you hold the stirrups of these striplin$s, you who are their elder81 To which he replied7 1($norant man9 6o one can appreciate the merit of people of merit e0cept a man of merit"1+ Al Mamoun then said to him7 +Had you pre%ented them, ( should ha%e declared you in fault" That which they ha%e done is no debasement of their di$nity/ on the contrary, it e0alts their merit" 6o man, thou$h $reat in rank, can be dispensed from three obli$ations7 he must respect his so%erei$n, %enerate his father, and honor his preceptor" As a reward for their conduct, ( bestow upon them twenty thousand dinars, and on you for the $ood education you $i%e them, ten thousand dirhems"+

When Al Mamoun was still in )horassan, a re%olt was raised a$ainst him in =a$hdad by his uncle, (brahim, the son of Mahdi" This prince had $reat talent as a sin$er, and was a skilful performer on musical instruments" =ein$ of a dark comple0ion, which he inherited from his mother, 'hikla, who was a ne$ress, and of a lar$e frame of body, he recei%ed the name of al3Tinnin 4the Dra$on5" He was proclaimed Caliph at =a$hdad durin$ the absence of Al Mamoun" The cause which led the people to renounce Al Mamoun and choose (brahim was that the former had chosen as his successor one of the descendants of ali, and in doin$ so had ordered the public to cease wearin$ black, which was the distincti%e color of the Abbassides, the rei$nin$ family, and to put on $reen, the color of the family of ali and their partisans" *n Mamoun1s entry into =a$dad, (brahim fled dis$uised as a woman" He was, howe%er, detected and arrested by one of the ne$ro police" When he was before Al Mamoun, who addressed him in ironic terms, he replied7 +,rince of the belie%ers, my crime $i%es you the ri$ht of retaliation, but for$i%eness is near nei$hbor to piety" -od has placed you abo%e all those who are $enerous, as he has placed me abo%e all criminals in the ma$nitude of my crime" (f you punish me you will be .ust/ if you pardon me you will be $reat"+ +Then ( pardon you,+ said Mamoun, and prostrated himself in prayer" He commanded, howe%er, that (brahim should continue to wear the bur&a, or lon$ female %eil in which he had fled, so that people mi$ht see in what dis$uise he had been arrested/ he ordered also that he should be e0posed to %iew in the palace courtyard/ then he committed him to police super%ision, and finally, after some days of detention, set him free" The followin$ anecdote was related by (brahim re$ardin$ the time when he was in hidin$ with a price set on his head7 +( went out one day at the hour of noon without knowin$ whither ( was $oin$" ( found myself in a narrow street, which ended in a cul3de3sac, and noticed a ne$ro standin$ in front of the door of a house" ( went strai$ht to him, and asked if he could afford me shelter for a short time" He consented, and bade me enter" The hall was adorned with mats and leather cushions" Then he left me alone, closed the door, and departed" A suspicion flashed across my mind/ this man knew that a price was set on my head, and had $one to denounce me" +While ( was re%ol%in$ these $loomy thou$hts, he returned with a ser%ant bearin$ a tray loaded with %ictuals" 1May my life be a sacrifice for you,1 he said" 1( am a barber, and therefore ( ha%e not touched any of these thin$s with my hand/ do me the honor to partake of them"1 Hun$er pressed me/ ( rose and obeyed" 1What about some wine81 he asked" 1( do not detest it,1 ( replied" He brou$ht some, and then said a$ain7 1May my life be your ransom9 Will you allow me to sit near you and drink to your health81 ( consented" After ha%in$ emptied three cups, he opened a cupboard and took out a lute" 1'ir,1 he said, 1it does not behoo%e a man of my low de$ree to be$ you to sin$, but your kindness prompts me to do so/ if you dei$n to consent it will be a $reat honor for your sla%e"1 +1How do you know that ( am a $ood sin$er81 ( asked him" 1=y allah91 he answered, with an air of astonishment, 1your reputation is too $reat for me not to know it7 you are (brahim, the son of Mahdi, and a reward of a hundred thousand dirhems is promised by Al Mamoun to the man who will find you"1 At these words ( took the lute, and was about to commence, when he added7 1'ir, would you be so kind as first to sin$ the piece which ( shall choose81 When ( consented he chose three airs in which ( had no ri%al" Then ( said to him7 1<ou know me, ( admit/ but where did you learn to know these three airs81 1( ha%e been,1 he

answered, 1in the ser%ice of (shak, son of (brahim Mausili, and ( ha%e often heard him speak of the $reat sin$ers and the airs in which they e0celled/ but who could ha%e $uessed that ( would hear you myself and in my own house81 +( san$ to him accordin$ly, and remained some time in his company, charmed with his a$reeable manners" At ni$htfall ( took lea%e of him" ( had brou$ht with me a purse full of $old pieces/ ( offered it to him, promisin$ him a $reater reward some day" 1This is stran$e,1 he said/ 1it is rather ( who should offer you all ( possess, and implore you to do me the honor to accept it" *nly respect has restrained me from doin$ so"1 He refused, accordin$ly, to recei%e anythin$ from me/ but he went out with me and put me on the road to the place whither ( wished to $o" Then he went off, and ( ha%e ne%er seen him since"+

Al Mamoun and (brahim, the 'on of Mahdi *ne day ten inhabitants of =asra were denounced to Al Mamoun as heretics who held the doctrine of Manes 4Manicheans5 and the two principles of li$ht and darkness" He ordered them to be brou$ht into his presence" A parasite, who saw them bein$ taken, said to himself7 +Here are folk who are $oin$ off for a .ollification"+ He slipped in amon$ them, and accompanied them without percei%in$ who they were till they reached the boat in which their $uards made them embark" +Doubtless this is a pleasure party9+ he e0claimed, and went on board with them" 'oon, howe%er, the $uards brou$ht chains and fettered the whole band, includin$ the parasite, who said to himself7 +My $reediness has ended by makin$ me a prisoner"+ Then he addressed the seniors of the band7 +,ardon me,+ he said/ +may ( ask who you are8+ +Tell us, rather, who you are,+ they answered, +and whether we may reckon you amon$ our brothers"+ +-od knows ( scarcely know you,+ he replied" +As for me, to tell the truth, ( am a professional parasite" When ( left my home this mornin$ ( happened to fall in with you" 'truck with your a$reeable appearance and $ood manners, ( said to myself7 1Here are some well3to3do people $oin$ to en.oy themsel%es"1 Conse&uently ( .oined your company, and took my place beside you as thou$h ( were one of you" When we reached the boat, which was pro%ided with carpets and cushions, and ( saw all these ba$s and well3filled baskets, ( thou$ht7 1They are $oin$ for an outin$ in some park or pleasure3 $round/ this is a lucky day for me"1 +( was still con$ratulatin$ myself when the $uards came and fettered you, and me with you" ( now feel &uite bewildered/ tell me, therefore, what it is all about"+ These words amused the prisoners, and made them smile" They replied7 +6ow that you are on the list of the suspected, and are chained, know that we are Manichaeans who ha%e been denounced to Mamoun, and are bein$ taken to him" He will ask us who we are, will &uestion us concernin$ our belief, and will e0hort us to repent and to ab.ure our reli$ion, proposin$ %arious tests to us/ he will, for e0ample, show us an ima$e of Manes, commandin$ us to spit upon it and to renounce him/ he will command us to sacrifice a pheasant" Whoe%er will do so will sa%e his life/ whoe%er refuses will be put to death" When you are called and put to the test you will say who you are and what your belief is, accordin$ as you feel prompted" =ut did you not say you were a parasite8 6ow, such people ha%e an ample store of anecdotes and stories/ shorten our .ourney, then, by recountin$ some"+ As soon as they arri%ed at =a$dad the prisoners were conducted into the presence of Mamoun" He called each in turn as his name was on the list/ he asked each concernin$ his

sect, and ur$ed them to renounce Manes, showin$ them his ima$e, and commandin$ them to spit on it" As they refused, he had them handed o%er one by one to the e0ecutioner" At last the parasite1s turn came" =ut as the ten prisoners had been done with and the list was e0hausted, Mamoun asked the $uards who he was" +Truly, we know nothin$ about him,+ they answered" +We found him amon$ them and brou$ht him hither"+ +Who are you8+ the Caliph asked him" +,rince of the belie%ers,+ he said, +may my wife be di%orced if ( understand what they are talkin$ about9 ( am only a poor parasite"+ And he told him his whole story from be$innin$ to end" The Caliph was much amused, and ordered the ima$e of Manes to be presented to him/ the parasite cursed and renounced the heretic heartily" Al Mamoun, howe%er, was about to punish him for his temerity and impudence, when (brahim, the son of Mahdi, who was present, said7 +'ire, let this man off, and ( will relate to you a kind of ad%enture, of which ( was the hero"+ The Caliph assented, and (brahim continued7 +,rince of the belie%ers, ( had $one out one day, and was ro%in$ at random throu$h the streets of =a$hdad, when ( came to the porch of a lofty mansion, whence issued a delicious odor of spices and dressed meats, by which ( was stron$ly attracted" ( addressed a passer3by, and asked to whom the house belon$ed" 1To a linen3merchant,1 he answered" 1What is his name81 ( asked" 1'uch a one, son of such a one,1 was his reply" ( lifted my eyes to the house" Throu$h the lattice3 work which co%ered one of the windows ( saw appear such a beautiful hand and wrist as ( had ne%er seen before" The charm of this apparition made me for$et the enticin$ odors, and ( stood there troubled and perple0ed" ;inally, ( asked the man, who had remained standin$ near if the master of the house e%er $a%e entertainments" 1<es, ( think he is $i%in$ one today,1 he answered/ 1but his $uests are merchants, staid and sober people like himself"1 +We were thus en$a$ed in talk when two persons of well3to3do appearance came down the street toward us" 1There are his two $uests,1 the man said to me" 1What are their names and their fathers1 names81 ( asked" He informed me, and ( accosted them immediately, sayin$7 1May my life be your sacrifice/ your host is waitin$ impatiently for you"1 ( escorted them to the door as if ( belon$ed to the house/ they went in, and ( followed" The master of the house percei%ed me, and, supposin$ that ( had been brou$ht by his friends, recei%ed me $raciously, and placed me in the seat of honor" Then the meal was brou$ht/ it was well ser%ed, and we did honor to the dishes, whose sa%or e0celled their odor" When the food had been remo%ed and we had washed our hands, our host led us into another hall richly adorned" He redoubled his politeness toward me, and specially addressed his con%ersation to me" The two $uests belie%ed me to be an intimate friend of his, while the host treated me in this fashion because he belie%ed ( had been brou$ht by his two friends" +We had already emptied se%eral cups when a youn$ female sla%e came forward, as $raceful as a willow3branch, and saluted us without timidity" 'he was offered a cushion to sit upon, and a lute was brou$ht to her, which she tuned with a skill which struck me" 'he then san$ an air in a most enchantin$ fashion/ so $reat was the skill and art with which she san$ that ( could not suppress a feelin$ of .ealousy" 1<oun$ $irl,1 ( said to her, 1you ha%e still a $ood deal to learn"1 These words irritated her/ she threw down the lute, and e0claimed to the host7 1'ince when do you admit to your intimacy such %e0atious $uests81 +( repented of my remark when ( saw the others look at me askance" 1(s there a lute here81 ( asked" 1<es,1 was the reply" They brou$ht me one, which ( tuned to my likin$, and then

san$" ( had hardly finished when the youn$ sla%e cast herself at my feet, and, embracin$ them, said7 1'ir, pardon me in the name of hea%en/ ( ha%e ne%er heard that air sun$ so e0&uisitely"1 Her master and those present followed her e0ample in praisin$ me/ cheerfulness was restored, and the cups circulated rapidly" ( san$ a$ain, and the enthusiasm of my hearers was roused to such a pitch that ( thou$ht they would take lea%e of their senses" ( waited awhile to let them reco%er themsel%es/ then, takin$ my lute a$ain, ( san$ for the third time" 1=y allah91 cried the sla%e, 1that is what deser%es to be called sin$in$91 +The others, howe%er, were be$innin$ to feel the effects of the wine/ the master of the house, who had a stron$er head than his $uests, entrusted them to the care of his own ser%ants and of theirs, and had them con%eyed home" ( remained alone with him" After we had emptied some more cups, he said to me7 1Truly, sir, ( consider the past days of my life, in which ( did not know you, wasted" )indly inform me who you are"1 He pressed me so much that at last ( told him my name" (mmediately he rose, kissed my hand, and said7 1( should ha%e been surprised, sir, had any one of a rank inferior to your own possessed such skill" To think one of the royal house was with me all the time, and ( knew it not91 =ein$ pressed by him to tell my story and what had attracted me to his house, ( told him how ( had stopped when ( smelt the odor of the food, and described the hand and wrist ( had seen at the window" +He strai$htway called one of his female sla%es and said7 1-o and tell 'o3and3so to come down"1 He had all the sla%es in succession brou$ht before me" After ha%in$ e0amined their hands, ( said7 16o9 the possessor of the hand ( saw is not amon$ them"1 1=y allah91 said my host, 1there are only my mother and my sister left9 ( will send for them"1 'uch $enerosity and kindness of heart surprised me" ( said to him7 1May my life be your sacrifice9 =efore callin$ your mother, call your sister/ it is probably she of whom ( am in search"1 1:ery well,1 he said, and sent for her" +As soon as ( set eyes on her hand and wrist ( cried7 1(t is she, my dear host, it is she91 Without losin$ a moment, he ordered his ser%ants to brin$ to$ether ten respectable elderly men from the nei$hborhood" They came/ he then sent for a sum of twenty thousand dirhems in two ba$s, and, addressin$ the ten men, said7 1( take you to witness that ( $i%e my sister here in marria$e to (brahim, son of Mahdi, and that ( bestow upon her a dowry of twenty thousand dirhems"1 His sister and ( both $a%e our a$reement to the marria$e, after which ( $a%e one of the ba$s of money to my youn$ wife, and distributed the other amon$ the witnesses, sayin$7 120cuse me, but this is all ( ha%e by me at present"1 They accepted my present and retired" +My host then proposed to prepare in his own house an apartment for us" 'uch $enerosity and kindness made me feel &uite embarrassed" ( said that ( only desired a litter to con%ey my wife" He readily a$reed, and sent alon$ with it so ma$nificent a trousseau that it entirely fills one of my houses"+ Mamoun was astonished at the $enerosity of the merchant" He $ranted his freedom and a rich present to the parasite, and ordered (brahim to present his father3in3law at court" The latter became one of the most intimate courtiers and companions of the Caliph"

The Death of Al Mamoun Durin$ Al Mamoun1s last campai$n a$ainst the -reek 2mperor he arri%ed at the ?i%er Gushairah, and encamped on its banks" Charmed by the clearness and purity of its waters, and by the beauty and fertility of the surroundin$ country, he had a kind of arbor constructed by the banks of the stream, intendin$ to rest there some days" 'o clear was the water that the inscription on a coin lyin$ at the bottom could be clearly read/ but it was so cold that it was impossible for any one to bathe in it" all at once a fish, about a fathom in len$th and flashin$ like an in$ot of sil%er, appeared in the water" The Caliph promised a reward to any one who would capture it/ an attendant went down, cau$ht the fish and re$ained the shore, but as he approached the spot where Al Mamoun was sittin$, the fish slipped from his $rasp, fell into the water, and sank like a stone to the bottom" 'ome of the water was splashed on the Caliph1s neck, chest, and arms, and wetted his clothes" The attendant went down a$ain, recaptured the fish, and placed it, wri$$lin$, in a napkin before the Caliph" Just as he had ordered it to be fried, Al Mamoun felt a sudden shi%er, and could not mo%e from the place" (n %ain he was co%ered with ru$s and skins/ he trembled like a leaf, and e0claimed7 +( am cold9 ( am cold9+ He was carried into his tent, co%ered with clothes, and a fire was lit, but he continued to complain of cold" When the fish had been cooked it was brou$ht to him, but he could neither taste nor touch it, so $reat was his sufferin$" As he $rew rapidly worse, his brother Mutasim &uestioned =akhteshou and (bn Masouyieh, his physicians, on his condition, and whether they could do him any $ood" (bn Masouyieh took one of the patient1s hands and =akhteshou the other, and felt his pulse to$ether/ the irre$ular pulsations heralded his dissolution" Just then Al Mamoun awoke out of his stupor/ he opened his eyes, and caused some of the nati%es of the place to be sent for, and &uestioned them re$ardin$ the stream and the locality" When asked re$ardin$ the meanin$ of the name +Gushairah,+ they replied that it si$nified +'tretch out thy feet+ [i"e", +die+#" Al Mamoun then in&uired the Arabic name of the country, and was told +?akkah"+ 6ow, the horoscope drawn at the moment of his birth announced that he would die in a place of that name/ therefore he had always a%oided residin$ in the city of ?akkah, fearin$ to die there" When he heard the answer $i%en by these people, he felt sure that this was the place predicted by his horoscope" ;eelin$ himself becomin$ worse, he commanded that he should be carried outside his tent in order to sur%ey his camp and his army once more" (t was now ni$ht3time" As his $a>e wandered o%er the lon$ lines of the camp and the li$hts twinklin$ into the distance, he cried7 +* thou whose rei$n will ne%er end, ha%e mercy on him whose rei$n is now endin$"+ He was then carried back to his bed" Mutasim, seein$ that he was sinkin$, commanded some one to whisper in his ear the confession of the Mohammedan faith" As the attendant was about to speak, in order that Al Mamoun mi$ht repeat the words after him, (bn Masouyieh said to him7 +Do not speak, for truly he could not now distin$uish between -od and Manes"+ The dyin$ man opened his eyes333they seemed e0traordinarily lar$e, and shone with a wonderful luster/ his hands clutched at the doctor/ he tried to speak to him, but could not/ then his eyes turned toward hea%en and filled with tears/ finally his ton$ue was loosened, and he spoke7 +* thou who diest not, ha%e mercy on him who dies,+ and he e0pired immediately" His body was carried to Tarsus and buried there"

'ource" ;rom7 Charles ;" Horne, ed", The 'acred =ooks and 2arly @iterature of the 2ast, 46ew <ork7 ,arke, Austin, K @ipscomb, LJL 5, :ol" :(7 Medie%al Arabia, pp" IF3AJ" 'canned by Jerome '" Arkenber$, Cal" 'tate ;ullerton" The te0t has been moderni>ed by ,rof" Arkenber$"

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