Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Khalif And His Visier, An Oriental Apologue.
progressively from vice to vice , till I now see him a disgrace to human nature , and every hour am expecting that the vengeance of Mahomet , or the laws of our country , will tremendously overtake him . " On this the three complainers bade each other adieu , and separated for the evening . . ¦ - Giafar , " said the Khalif to his favourite , " be it your care to find out ' who these three men areand see that they attend my pleasure in
, full divan to-morrow . " Giafar obeyed his master ; and the three trembling Moslems were conducted by the guards to the seraglio , where each , though ignorant of his imputed crime , expected to lose his head , or at least to have the bastinado . When the divan assembled , and the Khalif on his throne was surrounded by the imams , theemeers , and the grandees of his court , with a loud voice he commanded the
three miserables to be brought forth . "Friend , " said Haroon al Rasheed to the first , " it seems thou sayest of thyself , that thy condition is eminently unfortunate ; relate the causes of thy griefs to the wise men' whom thou seest here before me . " The man at first was inclined to equivocate , but the visier pointing to the executioner , and affirming that the Khalif had overheard part of their discoursehe
, declared that he indeed was of all men the most miserable , inasmuch as a wicked neig hbour continually persecuted him . As soon as he had finished his narrative— " Take that fellow /' said the Khalif in an angry tone to his attendants , and g ive him five hundred bastinadoes . " The imams , the emeers , and the grandees of the court , looked at each other in astonishment , but said nothing . The Khalif , whose
composure was not in the least disturbed , called for the second miserable : " Well , friend , " exclaimed Haroon al Rasheed , " and what sayest thou ? Thou art also , it appeareth , one whom Mahomet refuses to smile upon . " The man having witnessed his neighbour ' s punishment knew not how to act , and would willingly have held his peace ; but being urged in a commanding voice , and fearing that even worse than the bastinado would attend his obstinacy ,
acknowledged with a faltering voice , that his evil genius , in the shape of a termagant wife , made his days and ni g hts , insupportably vexatious . '" Take that fellow , " said the Khalif to his officers , " and give him instantly five hundred bastinadoes . " The imams , the emeers , and the o-randees of the court , a second time looked at each other in astonishment , but preserved the strictest silence . At the command of
the Khalif the third man stood forth . " Mussulman , " sa ( d Haroon al Rasheed , in somewhat of a less intimidating tone , " let me hear thy tale of sorrow . " " Commander of the faithful , " said the man , ¦ ¦ " I perceive that thou already knowest the sorrows which oppress , my heart ; nevertheless , at thy command , and without hesitation , I a-epeat in the hearing of the courtthata profligate son has been the
, , . disgrace of my manhood , and is now the torment of my age . " " Take ¦ that honest fellow , " said the Khalif , " and immediately give him a . thousand sequins . " A third time did the imams , the emeers , and the tgrandees of the court , look at each other with astonishment , without venturing to enquire the reason of the Khalif ' s most extraordinary decision .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Khalif And His Visier, An Oriental Apologue.
progressively from vice to vice , till I now see him a disgrace to human nature , and every hour am expecting that the vengeance of Mahomet , or the laws of our country , will tremendously overtake him . " On this the three complainers bade each other adieu , and separated for the evening . . ¦ - Giafar , " said the Khalif to his favourite , " be it your care to find out ' who these three men areand see that they attend my pleasure in
, full divan to-morrow . " Giafar obeyed his master ; and the three trembling Moslems were conducted by the guards to the seraglio , where each , though ignorant of his imputed crime , expected to lose his head , or at least to have the bastinado . When the divan assembled , and the Khalif on his throne was surrounded by the imams , theemeers , and the grandees of his court , with a loud voice he commanded the
three miserables to be brought forth . "Friend , " said Haroon al Rasheed to the first , " it seems thou sayest of thyself , that thy condition is eminently unfortunate ; relate the causes of thy griefs to the wise men' whom thou seest here before me . " The man at first was inclined to equivocate , but the visier pointing to the executioner , and affirming that the Khalif had overheard part of their discoursehe
, declared that he indeed was of all men the most miserable , inasmuch as a wicked neig hbour continually persecuted him . As soon as he had finished his narrative— " Take that fellow /' said the Khalif in an angry tone to his attendants , and g ive him five hundred bastinadoes . " The imams , the emeers , and the grandees of the court , looked at each other in astonishment , but said nothing . The Khalif , whose
composure was not in the least disturbed , called for the second miserable : " Well , friend , " exclaimed Haroon al Rasheed , " and what sayest thou ? Thou art also , it appeareth , one whom Mahomet refuses to smile upon . " The man having witnessed his neighbour ' s punishment knew not how to act , and would willingly have held his peace ; but being urged in a commanding voice , and fearing that even worse than the bastinado would attend his obstinacy ,
acknowledged with a faltering voice , that his evil genius , in the shape of a termagant wife , made his days and ni g hts , insupportably vexatious . '" Take that fellow , " said the Khalif to his officers , " and give him instantly five hundred bastinadoes . " The imams , the emeers , and the o-randees of the court , a second time looked at each other in astonishment , but preserved the strictest silence . At the command of
the Khalif the third man stood forth . " Mussulman , " sa ( d Haroon al Rasheed , in somewhat of a less intimidating tone , " let me hear thy tale of sorrow . " " Commander of the faithful , " said the man , ¦ ¦ " I perceive that thou already knowest the sorrows which oppress , my heart ; nevertheless , at thy command , and without hesitation , I a-epeat in the hearing of the courtthata profligate son has been the
, , . disgrace of my manhood , and is now the torment of my age . " " Take ¦ that honest fellow , " said the Khalif , " and immediately give him a . thousand sequins . " A third time did the imams , the emeers , and the tgrandees of the court , look at each other with astonishment , without venturing to enquire the reason of the Khalif ' s most extraordinary decision .