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"The day on which he renewed his custom of going towards sunset to the foot of the bridge of Bagdad in order to stop the first stranger who should approach, and invite him to do him the honour of coming to sup at his house, was the first of the month; and it has been already mentioned that this was the day on which the caliph amused himself with passing through one of the gates of the city in disguise that he might himself see whether anything was done contrary to the established laws.
"Abou Hassan had not long taken his seat on a bench placed against the parapet when, casting his eyes towards the other end of the bridge, he saw the caliph coming towards him in his old disguise of a merchant of Moussoul, and attended by the same slave who had once accompanied him to Abou Hassan's house. Convinced that all the misery he had suffered arose only from the circumstance that the merchant from Moussoul had left the door open when he went out of his chamber on the former occasion, Abou Hassan trembled at the sight of him. 'Allah preserve me!' said he to himself, 'if I am not mistaken this is the very sorcerer who laid his spell upon me.' He immediately turned his head and looked steadfastly into the stream, that the supposed merchant might not see him as he passed by.
"The caliph, who wished for a renewal of the amusement he had derived from Abou Hassan, had taken great care to be informed of all that he had said and done the day after he awoke and was carried back to his house, and had been told of everything that had happened to the unfortunate man. He felt fresh pleasure at each new particular that was told him, and was amused even at the ill-treatment which Abou Hassan had undergone at the hospital for madmen. But as this monarch was very just and generous, and as he discovered in Abou Hassan a turn of mind likely to afford him still further amusement, and as he also doubted whether, after having given up his assumed dignity of caliph, Abou Hassan would return to his usual way of life, he thought fit to bring the young man again near his person; and to effect this purpose he considered it best to disguise himself on the first day of the month like a merchant of Moussoul, as he had done before. He perceived Abou Hassan almost as soon as he was himself seen by the latter; and from Abou Hassan's turning away, he found immediately how dissatisfied his former host was with him. This induced him to walk on that side of the bridge where Abou Hassan was, and to approach him as closely as possible. When he came up to him he stooped down and looked in his face. 'It is you, brother Abou Hassan?' said he. 'I salute you; suffer me, I beseech you, to embrace you.'
"'For my part,' answered Abou Hassan bluntly, 'I want neither your salutation nor your embraces; go your way.' 'What,' resumed the caliph, 'do not you know me? Do not you recollect the evening we passed together a month ago this day at your house, when you did me the honour to entertain me so hospitably?' 'No,' replied Abou Hassan, 'I know you not, nor can I guess what you are talking of. Therefore, I say again, go about your business.'
"The caliph did not resent Abou Hassan's answer. He knew that one of the rules Abou Hassan had laid down for himself was to have no further acquaintance with a person whom he had once entertained, but he chose to pretend ignorance of it. 'I cannot believe that you do not recollect me,' he said. 'It is scarcely possible that you should have so easily forgotten me. Surely some misfortune must have befallen you, that you should speak to me thus strangely. You must remember, nevertheless, that I showed my gratitude by my good wishes; and that upon one point, which you held near your heart, I made an offer of my services which are not to be slighted.' 'I know not,' replied Abou Hassan, 'what may be your influence, nor am I desirous of putting it to the proof. This I know, that your wishes had only the effect of driving me mad. Therefore go your way, and plague me no more.'
"'Ah, brother Abou Hassan,' replied the caliph, embracing him, 'I do not mean to part from you in this manner. Since I have been so fortunate as to meet with you a second time, you must again extend to me the same hospitality you showed me a month ago, and I must have the honour of drinking with you again.' For that very reason Abou Hassan protested he would be upon his guard. 'I have sufficient power over myself,' he cried, 'to prevent myself from again associating with a man who carries mischief about him as you do. You have done me much harm, and I would not willingly expose myself to more at your hands.'
"'My good friend Abou Hassan,' returned the caliph, 'I beseech you to be convinced of my friendship. Do me the favour to relate to me what has befallen you; confide in me who have ever wished you well, who still wish you well, and who would be glad of an opportunity to do you any service in order to make amends for any misfortune you may have suffered.' Abou Hassan gave way to the entreaty of the caliph, and said, 'Your earnestness, and your importunity towards me, have overcome my resistance; but you shall judge from what I am about to tell you whether I complain of you without reason.'
"The caliph seated himself close to Abou Hassan, who gave him an account of all the adventures that had befallen him from the time of his waking at the palace to the moment of his second waking at his own chamber; and he told everything as if it were really a dream, the recital of which gave his hearer fresh pleasure. He then dwelt fervently on the impression which this dream had left upon his mind of his being caliph and Commander of the Faithful. 'This delusion,' added he, ' led me into the wildest extravagances; until at last my neighbours were obliged to bind me like a madman, and have me conveyed to the hospital for lunatics, where I was treated in a manner which all must allow to have been cruel, barbarous, and inhuman; but what will surprise you, and what, without doubt, you do not expect to be told is, that all these misfortunes have come upon me entirely through your fault. You must remember how earnestly I requested you to shut the door of my chamber when you left me after supper. This request you utterly disregarded, for you left the door open, and the devil entered and filled my head with this dream which, agreeable as it then appeared to me, has nevertheless occasioned all the evils of which I have so much reason to complain. You, therefore, by your negligence, are the cause of all.'
"Abou Hassan related to the caliph all these grievances with much warmth and vehemence. The caliph knew better than he all that had occurred, and was delighted within himself at having succeeded so well, and could not hear this narrative detailed in so artless a manner without bursting into a fit of laughter.
"Abou Hassan, who thought his story would excite compassion, was highly offended at this violent laughter of the pretended merchant. 'Are you making a jest of me,' said he, ' by thus laughing in my face? Do you wish for actual proof of what I advance? Here, look and see yourself, and tell me if this is a jest.' As he said this he bent forward, and baring his breast and shoulders he let the caliph see the scars and bruises occasioned by the beatings he had received.
"The caliph was shocked at the sight. He felt compassion for poor Abou Hassan, and was extremely sorry the jest had been carried so far. He ceased laughing, and cordially embracing Abou Hassan he said with a very serious air,' Rise, my dear brother, I beseech you let us go to your house, I wish to have again the pleasure of being your guest this evening; to-morrow, if it please Heaven, all will be found to have turned out for the best.'
"Notwithstanding his resolution, and in opposition to the oath he had taken, Abou Hassan could not withstand the nattering importunities of the caliph, whom he supposed to be a merchant. 'I consent,' said he, 'but only upon a condition which you shall bind yourself by an oath to observe. It is this: that you do me the favour to shut my chamber door when you leave my house that the devil may not come to turn my brain as he did before.' The pretended merchant gave his promise. Thereupon the two men rose and walked towards the town. The better to engage Abou Hassan, the caliph said to him, 'Put confidence in me, and I promise you, as a man of honour, that I will not fail of my word. After this you will not hesitate to rely upon a person like me, who wishes you all kinds of prosperity and happiness.'
"'I do not require this,' rejoined Abou Hassan, suddenly stopping short-'I give way with all my heart to your importunity, but I can dispense with your good wishes, and I beg for Heaven's sake that you will not invoke any blessings upon me. All the ills that have befallen me to the present time have no other source than those wishes of yours.' 'Good,' replied the caliph, 'since you will have it so, I promise to express no more good wishes for you.' 'I am heartily rejoiced to hear you say so,' said Abou Hassan, 'and I have nothing else to ask. And if you keep your word in this, I will lay no further conditions upon you.'
"Abou Hassan and the caliph, followed by the caliph's slave, walked on conversing in this manner: the day began to close when they reached Abou Hassan's house. He requested the caliph to take a seat on the sofa, and he seated himself near his guest. In a short time supper was served. They fell to without ceremony. When they had finished Abou Hassan's mother came to clear the table, and placed the fruit upon it, near her son, with the wine and glasses.
"Abou Hassan first poured out wine for himself, and then for the caliph. They drank six or seven glasses each, conversing on indifferent matters. When the caliph saw Abou Hassan beginning to grow merry, he led him to a more interesting subject, and asked him if he had ever been in love.
"'Brother, replied Abou Hassan, 'I have never considered either love or marriage but as a slavery to which I have always felt a reluctance to submit; and to this moment I have never loved anything but the pleasures of the table, and especially good wine; my idea of enjoyment, in a word, is to amuse myself and converse agreeably with my friends. I will not go so far as to say that I should be indifferent to marriage, or incapable of attachment if I could meet with a woman as beautiful and as agreeable in disposition as one of the many whom I saw in my dream on that fatal night when I received you here the first time, one who would pass the evenings feasting with me, who could sing and play on the lute and converse agreeably with me, and who had no other wish but to please and amuse me. On the contrary, I believe all my indifference would be changed into the warmest attachment to such a person, and I could live very happily with her. But where shall a man meet with such a woman as I have described, except in the palace of the Commander of the Faithful; or of those very powerful lords of the court with whom there is no want of silver and gold. I would rather, therefore, confine myself to my bottle, which is a pleasure I have at little expense, and which I can enjoy as well as they.' As he said this, he took a glass and filled it with wine. 'Do you take a glass also, which I will fill for you.' said he to the caliph.
"When the caliph and Abou Hassan had emptied their glasses, the former resumed: 'Tis a great pity that so gallant a man as you are, and one who is not indifferent to love, should lead such a solitary life.' 'I infinitely prefer,' said Abou Hassan, 'the composed kind of life you see me leading, to the company of a woman who perhaps might plague me in a thousand ways by her faults and her ill temper.'
"They continued their conversation on this subject to a great length; and the caliph, who saw Abou Hassan had quite reached the point he wished then said, 'Leave the matter to me, and since you have a good taste and are an honest fellow, I will find a lady to your mind without causing you either expense or trouble.' So saying, he took the bottle and Abou Hassan's glass into which he dexterously put a small quantity of the powder he had made use of before, filled a bumper for his host, and, presenting the glass to him, merrily observed: 'Take this, and drink beforehand to the health of the beauty who is to make your life happy.'
"Abou Hassan took the glass with a smile. 'I will drink to the health of this beauty you promise me, although I am content with my present situation.'
"So soon as Abou Hassan had swallowed the drugged wine a deep sleep overpowered his senses, as it had done twice before, and the caliph immediately ordered the slave who attended him to take Abou Hassan and carry him to the palace. The slave accordingly carried him off; and the caliph, who had no design of sending Abou Hassan back, shut the chamber door when he quitted it.
"The slave followed with his burden; and when the caliph reached the palace he ordered Abou Hassan to be laid on a sofa in the fourth saloon, whence he had been carried back to his own house, fast asleep, on the former occasion. Before Abou Hassan was left alone to finish his sleep, the caliph ordered the same dress to be put upon him in which he had been clad on the day when he supported the character of the caliph. Then the latter bade all in the palace go to bed, and also ordered the officers of the eunuchs, the officers of the bedchamber, the female musicians, and the same damsels who had been in this saloon when Abou Hassan drank the last glass of wine which brought on his sleep, to be ready without fail the next day at sunrise when Abou Hassan should awake; and charged all of them to play their parts exactly.
"The caliph went to bed, after having told Mesrour to come and rouse him early, that he might go into the closet where he had before been concealed.
"Mesrour did not fail to wake the caliph exactly at the appointed hour. The caliph went out towards the chamber where Abou Hassan was still asleep. He found the officers, the damsels, and the female musicians, at the door waiting his arrival. He told them in a few words what his intention was; then he went in and proceeded to place himself in the closet whose lattices concealed him. Mesrour, all the other officers, the damsels, and the female musicians, came in after him, and stood round the sofa, on which Abou Hassan was sleeping.
"When everything was thus arranged, and Abou Hassan had slept off the effects of the caliph's powder, he awoke, but without opening his eyes. Directly he stirred in the bed the seven choirs of singers raised their voices, mingled with the sound of hautbois and other instruments, so as to make a most agreeable concert.
"Abou Hassan was very much astonished when he heard such sweet harmony. He opened his eyes, and his astonishment increased beyond measure when he perceived the damsels and the officers who stood round him and who he thought he recollected. The saloon where he now lay seemed the same as that which he had seen in his first dream.
"The concert presently ceased, for the performers wished to give the caliph an opportunity of observing the countenance of his new guest, and hearing all that Abou Hassan should say in his astonishment. The damsels, Mesrour, and all the officers of the bed-chamber remained in their places, standing in profound silence, with every mark of respect. 'Alas!' cried Abou Hassan, biting his fingers, and speaking in a loud voice, to the delight of the caliph, 'here am I again fallen into the same dream and the same illusion which I experienced a month ago; and what have I to expect but the same scourging, the hospital for madmen, and the iron cage? O Allah the merciful! He whom I received yesterday evening at my house is a most wicked rascal to bring upon me this delusion, and all the misery I shall suffer in consequence of it. Perfidious traitor! He had promised with an oath that he would shut my chamber door after him when he left my house; but he has not done so, and the evil spirit has entered, and is now again turning my brain with this cursed dream about the Commander of the Faithful. May Allah confound thee, Satan, and heap a mountain of stones upon thy head!'
"When he had spoken these words Abou Hassan shut his eyes and remained sunk in deep thought. A moment afterwards he opened them, and looking by turns on all the objects around him he cried again, but with rather less astonishment, and with a smile, 'I resign myself into the hands of Thy providence; O Allah, preserve me from the temptation of Satan!' Then closing his eyes again, he continued, 'I know what I will do-I will sleep till Satan leaves me, and goes back to the place whence he came.'
"But the bystanders would not give him time to sleep again, as he proposed. Heart's-Delight, one of the damsels whom he had seen at his first visit to the palace, came up to him and seated herself at the end of the sofa. 'Commander of the Faithful,' said she, 'I beseech your majesty to pardon me if I take the liberty of advising you not to sleep again, but to endeavour to rouse yourself and get up; the day is beginning to appear.' 'Get thee from me, Satan,' said Abou Hassan; then looking up at Heart's-Delight he asked, 'Do you call me Commander of the Faithful? You certainly take me for another person.'
"But Heart's-Delight resumed: 'I am addressing your majesty by the title which belongs to you as sovereign of all the Mussulman world. Your majesty is doubtless pleased to jest,' added she, 'in thus affecting not to know who you are; or perhaps you have been troubled by some unpleasant dream.'
"Heart's-Delight said so many other things to Abou Hassan which appeared quite probable to him, that at length he rose and sat up. He opened his eyes and recognized her, and likewise Cluster-of-Pearls, and the other damsels whom he had seen before. Then they all approached him at once, and Heart's-Delight resuming her discourse: 'Commander of the Faithful, and vicar of the prophet upon earth,' said she, ‘your majesty will allow us to remind you again that it is time to rise; you see it is daylight.'
"'You are very troublesome and impertinent,' retorted Abou Hassan, rubbing his eyes; 'I am not Commander of the Faithful, I am Abou Hassan, as I very well know; and you shall not persuade me to the contrary.' 'We know nothing of Abou Hassan,' replied Heart's-Delight; 'we know your majesty to be Commander of the Faithful, and you will never persuade us that you are any other person.'
"Abou Hassan cast his eyes around him, and felt as if he were bewitched when he saw himself in a saloon in which he knew he had been before; but he attributed this appearance to a dream, like that he had already experienced, and he dreaded the consequences that were to come. 'Heaven have mercy upon me,' cried he, 'into its hands I resign myself. From what I now see I cannot doubt but that the devil who entered my chamber besets and disturbs my imagination with all these visions.' The caliph felt so strong a disposition to laugh that he had some difficulty to avoid betraying himself.
"Abou Hassan was by this time once more lying down and had shut his eyes again. 'Commander of the Faithful,' immediately said Heart's-Delight, 'since your majesty does not rise after being told it is daylight, and it is necessary your majesty should pay attention to the business of the empire, we shall make use of the permission you have given us for such occasions.' As she said this she took Abou Hassan by one arm, and called the other damsel to assist her in making him rise from the place where he lay; and they carried him, almost by force, into the midst of the saloon, where they placed him on a seat. Then they took each other by the hand and danced about him to the sound of the cymbals and all the other instruments, which they rattled about his head as loud as possible.
"Abou Hassan found himself perplexed beyond expression: ‘Can I be really caliph and Commander of the Faithful?' said he to himself. At last he beckoned to Cluster-of-Pearls and Morning-Star, who were dancing about him, and signified that he wished to speak. Morning-Star immediately silenced the noise of the instruments, and came near him. 'Now speak out honestly,' said he, with great simplicity, 'and tell me truly who I am.'
"'Commander of the Faithful,' answered Morning-Star, 'your majesty is pleased to astonish us by putting this question, as if you did not yourself know that you are the Commander of the Faithful. If this is not the case, some extraordinary dream must have made your majesty forget who you are. Nevertheless I will bring to your recollection everything you did yesterday through the whole day.' She then reminded him of his coming into the council, of the punishment of the Iman and the four old men by the officer of the police. She told him of the present of a purse of gold sent by his vizier to the mother of a person called Abou Hassan. She related what was done in the interior of the palace and what passed at the three refreshment tables which were served in the three saloons. And when she came to speak of the last she said: 'Your majesty, after having made us sit near you at the table, did us the honour of listening to our songs, and taking wine from our hands, till the moment when your majesty fell asleep in the manner just related by Heart's-Delight. Since then your majesty, contrary to your usual habit, has remained sunk in a deep sleep till the beginning of this day.'
"'Well, well,' returned Abou Hassan, ' you would fain impose upon me if I would hearken to you. For my part,' he went on, 'I say you are all mad, and have all lost your senses. But let me tell you, that since I saw you I have been at my own home, have treated my mother very ill, and have been thrown into the lunatics' hospital, where I remained much against my will more than three weeks, during which time the keeper never failed to treat me every day with fifty lashes-and would you have all this to be nothing but a dream? Surely you are jesting.' 'Commander of the Faithful,' replied Morning-Star, 'we are all ready to swear that what you tell us is only a dream. You have not left this room since yesterday, and you have slept through the whole night till this moment.'
"The confidence with which this damsel assured Abou Hassan that all she said was true, and that he had not left the saloon since he first entered it, plunged him into the greatest bewilderment. He knew not and could not tell what to believe. 'O Heaven!' said he to himself, 'am I Abou Hassan? Am I Commander of the Faithful? May Allah enlighten my understanding, and cause me to distinguish the truth that I may know what to believe.' He then uncovered his shoulders, still black with the strokes he had received, and showing them to the damsels he cried out, look for yourselves and judge whether such scars could come from a dream when a man is sleeping. I can assure you I think them real; and the pain I still feel from them is so sure a proof of their reality that I can have no doubt. If all this has befallen me in my sleep, it is the most astonishing thing in the world.'
"In his bewilderment of mind Abou Hussan called one of the officers: ‘Come hither,' said he, 'and bite the tip of my ear that I may determine whether I am asleep or awake.' The officer stepped up to Abou Hassan, took the top of his ear between his teeth, and bit so hard that Abou Hassan set up a yell of pain.
"When he thus cried out all the instruments began to play at the same time, and the damsels and the officers began to dance and sing about Abou Hassan with so much noise that he fell into a sort of frenzy, which made him commit a thousand extravagances. He began to sing with the rest. He stripped off the fine dress of the caliph which they had put upon him. He threw upon the floor the cap he had on his head; and with only his shirt and trousers on, he sprang off his couch and threw himself between the two damsels, whom he took by the hand, and began to skip and dance with them so actively, so violently, and with so many droll and ridiculous twistings of his body, that the caliph in his hiding-place could no longer restrain himself. This sudden outburst of Abou Hassan made him laugh so violently that he fell backwards, and his laughter was heard above all the noise of the musical instruments and cymbals. At length he rose up and opened the lattice. Then putting
out his hand he cried, still laughing: 'Abou Hassan, Abou Hassan, are you determined to make me die with laughter?'
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