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"On his return to the palace the caliph had sent the first officer in waiting to summon the grand vizier Gaifar, and the vizier had just arrived. The caliph said to him: 'Giafar, I sent to you to warn you not to seem astonished when, at the audience to-morrow morning, you shall see the man who is now asleep on my bed seated upon my throne, and dressed in my robes of state. Address him in the same form you employ towards me, and treat him exactly as if he were the Commander of the Faithful. Wait upon him, and execute punctually all his orders, just as if they were mine. He will most probably make large presents, and you will be entrusted with the distribution of them: fulfil all his commands in this matter. Remember also to warn my emirs, my ushers, and all the officers not within the palace that to-morrow at the public audience they shall pay him the same honours they accord to my person, and bid them act their parts so well that he shall be thoroughly deceived.'
"After the grand vizier had retired, the caliph passed on to another apartment; and as he went to bed he imparted to Mesrour, chief of the eunuchs, the orders which were to be executed, so that everything might succeed in the manner intended. Above all, he enjoined Mesrour not to fail in coming to call him at the usual hour, and before Abou Hassan should be awake, because he wished to be present at all that might take place.
"Mesrour awakened the caliph punctually at the time he was ordered. As soon as Haroun Alraschid had entered the room where Abou Hassan slept, he placed himself in an adjoining closet, whence he could see all that took place, without being himself seen. All the officers and all the ladies who were to be present when Abou Hassan rose came in at the same time, and were posted in their accustomed places, according to their rank, just as if the caliph himself had been about to rise, and they were waiting ready to perform the duties of their various offices.
"As it was time to get up for early prayer before sunrise, the officer who was nearest Abou Hassan's pillow applied to the sleeper's nose a small piece of sponge dipped in vinegar.
"Abou Hassan sneezed and opened his eyes; and, as far as the dim light permitted him, he saw himself in a large and magnificent chamber, superbly furnished, and ornamented throughout with vases of massive gold, and with tapestry and carpets of the richest kind. He found himself surrounded by young ladies of enchanting beauty, many of whom had different musical instruments, which they were preparing to play upon; and by black eunuchs richly dressed, and standing in attitudes of deep humility. As he cast his eyes upon the coverlid of the bed, he saw it was of crimson and gold brocade, ornamented with pearls and diamonds; by the bedside lay a dress of the same materials, ornamented in similar style; and near it, on a cushion, a caliph's cap.
"At the sight of all this splendour Abou Hassan was inexpressibly astonished and bewildered. He looked upon the whole as a dream-but a dream of so charming a nature that he hoped it might prove a reality. 'Truly,' said he to himself, 'it seems I am caliph; but,' added he, after a pause, on recovering himself, 'I must not deceive myself, this is a dream, merely an effect of the wish I formed in conversation with my guest-' so he shut his eyes again as if he intended to go to sleep.
"But at that moment an eunuch drew near. 'O Commander of the Faithful,' said he, respectfully, 'your majesty will be pleased not to sleep again. It is time to rise for early prayer. The day begins to break.' Abou Hassan, very much astonished at this address, said again to himself, 'Am I awake, or do I sleep? No, I am certainly asleep-' continued he, keeping his eyes still closed.
"'O Commander of the Faithful,' resumed the eunuch, 'your majesty will allow me to repeat that it is time to rise, unless your majesty means to disregard the hour of morning prayer.'
"'I was deceiving myself,' said Abou Hassan, 'I am not asleep, I am awake.' He sat up in his bed with a cheerful countenance, like a man rejoicing at finding himself in a situation very far above his rank; and the caliph, who watched him, penetrated his thoughts with great satisfaction.
"Then the beautiful ladies of the palace bowed down before Abou Hassan; and those among them who had instruments of music saluted him with a concert. This so enchanted him, and raised him to such an excess of delight, that he knew not where he was, and almost lost consciousness. He again doubted whether what he saw and heard was a dream or reality. He covered his eyes with his hands, and bending his head repeated to himself, 'What does all this mean? Where am I? What is this palace? Whence come these eunuchs, these gallant officers, these beauteous damsels, and these enchanting musicians?' At last he took his hands from his face; and opening his eyes to look up, he saw the sun darting its first rays through the window of the chamber in which he lay.
"At this moment Mesrour, the chief of the eunuchs, came in. He bowed down, with his face to the ground, before Abou Hassan, and as he rose said, 'Commander of the Faithful, your majesty will permit me to represent that you have not been accustomed to rise so late, nor have you ever suffered the hour of morning prayer to pass unregarded. Unless your majesty is indisposed, you will now be pleased to mount your throne, to give audience as usual. The generals of your armies, the governors of your provinces, and the other great officers of your court, await the moment when the door of the council-chamber shall be opened.
"At this address of Mesrour, Abou Hassan was, as it were, convinced against his own judgment that he was not asleep, and that the splendours which he saw around him were not a dream. He felt bewildered at the position he was in. At length he fixed his eyes upon Mesrour, and, in a serious tone, demanded of him, 'Whom are you addressing? Who is it that you call Commander of the Faithful? I know you not; you must certainly take me for some other person.'
"Any man but Mesrour would have been disconcerted at Abou Hassan's questions; but, instructed by the caliph, he played his part wonderfully well. ‘O my most honoured lord and master,' cried he, 'your majesty surely talks thus to me to-day in order to try me! Is not your majesty the Commander of the Faithful, vicar of the prophet sent from Allah, who is master of all, both in Heaven and in earth? Your poor slave Mesrour has not forgotten all this, after the many years during which he has had the honour and happiness of paying his duty and services to your majesty! He humbly ventures to think some disagreeable dream has disturbed your majesty's repose.'
"Abou Hassan burst into such a violent fit of laughter at this speech of Mesrour's that he fell back on his pillow, to the great amusement of the real caliph.
"After he had laughed till he was out of breath, Abou Hassan sat up again in his bed, and speaking to a little eunuch as black as Mesrour, cried, 'Hark ye, tell me who I am.' 'O mighty sovereign,' said the little eunuch, 'your majesty is the Commander of the Faithful, and vicar upon earth of the Lord of both worlds.' 'Thou art a little liar, thou sooty-face!' replied Abou Hassan.
"He then called one of the ladies. 'Come hither,' said he, as he held out his hand towards her, 'take the end of my finger and bite it, that I may feel whether I am asleep or awake.'
"The damsel, who knew the caliph from his hiding-place saw all that was going on, was delighted with an opportunity of showing how well she could play her part where the business was to afford her master amusement. She came towards Abou Hassan, and closing her teeth upon the end of his finger, which he had held out to her, she bit it pretty sharply.
"Abou Hassan drew back his hand in a hurry. 'I am not asleep,' he cried, 'I am most assuredly not asleep. By what miracle have I become caliph in one night?' Speaking again to the same damsel he resumed, 'Now, in the name of Allah, I beseech you tell me exactly the truth. Am I really and truly the Commander of the Faithful?' 'Your majesty,' replied she, 'is in truth Commander of the Faithful; and we, who are your slaves, are all amazed to think what can make your majesty doubt the fact.' 'You lie,' replied Abou Hassan. 'I know very well who I am.'
"As the chief of the eunuchs perceived that Abou Hassan meant to rise, he offered his hand to assist him in getting out of bed.
"'Oh, Heavens!' cried Abou Hassan, 'what miracle is this! Last night was I Abou Hassan, and this morning I am the Commander of the Faithful! I cannot at all understand this very sudden and surprising change.' The officers whose business it was to dress the caliph speedily performed their office. When this was accomplished, as the other officers, the eunuchs, and the ladies, had ranged themselves in two lines, extending to the door through which he was to go into the council chamber, Mesrour led the way, and Abou Hassan followed. Mesrour entered the council-chamber, and went on before Abou Hassan quite to the foot of the throne, where he stopped to assist him in ascending it.
"Thus Abou Hassan sat on the royal throne amidst the acclamations of the attendants, who wished him all kinds of happiness and prosperity.
"Directly Abou Hassan entered the council-chamber, the caliph quitted the closet in which he had been concealed, and passed to another closet from whence he could see and hear all that took place in the council-chamber. He was not a little diverted to see Abou Hassan representing him upon the throne, and presiding with as much gravity as he could himself have shown.
"When Abou Hassan had taken his seat, the grand vizier prostrated himself at the foot of the throne, and, as he rose, said in a solemn voice: 'O Commander of the Faithful, may Allah pour upon your majesty all the blessings of this life, and receive you into paradise in the next, and cast your enemies into the flames of hell!'
"After all that had happened to him since he awoke, and what he had just heard from the mouth of the grand vizier, Abou Hassan no longer doubted that his wish had been fulfilled, and that he was really the caliph. So he immediately began to exercise his power. Looking at the grand vizier he asked him whether he had anything to report.
"'O Commander of the Faithful,' replied the grand vizier, 'the emirs, the viziers, and the other officers who belong to your majesty's council, are at the door, anxiously waiting till you shall give them permission that they may enter, and pay their accustomed respects.' Abou Hassan immediately gave the word to open the door.
"The door was opened; and at once the viziers, the emirs, and the principal officers of the court entered. They came forward to the foot of the throne, and paid their respects to Abou Hassan, prostrating themselves with their faces to the ground, just as they would have done in presence of the caliph himself.
"Then the grand vizier, standing before the throne, began to make his report of various matters. This report was a matter of routine, and of little consequence. Nevertheless the caliph was in constant admiration of Abou Hassan's conduct; for the new caliph never appeared at all embarrassed. He gave just decisions upon the questions which came before him; for his good sense suggested whether he was to grant or refuse the demands that were made.
"Before the vizier had finished his report, Abou Hassan caught sight of the chief officer of the police. 'Stay a moment,' said he, interrupting the grand vizier, 'I have an order of importance to give immediately to the officer of the police.'
"This officer gravely approached the throne, at the foot of which he prostrated himself. 'O officer,' said Abou Hassan to him, 'go immediately, without loss of time, to such a street in such a quarter of the town,' and he mentioned the name of his own street. 'In this street is a mosque, where you will find the Iman and four old greybeards. Seize their persons, and let the four old men have each a hundred strokes on the feet, and let the Iman have four hundred. Thereupon you shall cause all the five to be clothed in rags and mounted each on a camel, with their faces turned towards the tail. Thus equipped, you shall have them led through the different quarters of the town preceded by a crier, who shall proclaim with a loud voice, "This is the punishment for those who meddle with affairs which do not concern them, and who make it their business to sow dissension among neighbouring families, and to cause strife and mischief." I command you, moreover, that you enjoin them to leave the part of the town in which they now live, and forbid them ever to set foot again in the place. While your deputy is leading them in the procession I have just ordered, you must return to report to me the execution of my commands.'
"The officer of police placed his hand upon his head, to signify that he was ready to execute the order he had received.
"The order thus judiciously given gave the caliph great satisfaction; for he was now convinced that Abou Hassan had been in earnest in wishing to punish the Iman and his four old counsellors, when he declared that was the original motive for his wishing that he might have the caliph's power for a single day.
"The grand vizier went on with his report, which he had very nearly ended, when the officer of the police presented himself to give an account of what he had done. He said to Abou Hassan: 'O Commander of the Faithful, I found the Iman and the four old men, and to prove that I have duly executed the orders I received from your majesty, I bring a written account of the proceeding, signed by many principal people of that part of the town who were witnesses.' So saying, he took from his bosom a paper, and gave it to the pretended caliph.
"Abou Hassan took the paper and read it from beginning to end, even to the names of the witnesses, all of whom were people whom he knew; and when he had finished, he said with a smile to the officer of the police: 'You have done well; I am satisfied and pleased; resume your place.' And he added to himself, with an air of satisfaction, 'Hypocrites who undertake to comment upon my actions, and think it wrong that I should receive and entertain respectable people at my house, richly deserve this disgrace and punishment.' The caliph, who watched him, highly approved of the proceedings of his substitute.
"After that Abou Hassan addressed the grand vizier: 'Let the grand treasurer,' said he, ' make up a purse of a thousand pieces of gold, and go with it into the quarter of the city whither I sent the officer of the police, and give it to the mother of one Abou Hassan, called the Reveller. Go, and return quickly.'
"The grand vizier departed, and went to the grand treasurer, who gave him the purse. He ordered one of the slaves who attended him to take it, and convey it to Abou Hassan's mother. On coming to her house, he said the caliph had sent her this present, and departed without explaining himself farther. Abou Hassan's mother was surprised at receiving the purse, as she could not conceive what should induce the caliph to make her so handsome a present; for she knew not what was passing at the palace. As soon as Giafar reached the council-chamber, and had assured Abou Hassan that he had executed his commission, Mesrour, the chief of the eunuchs, made a sign to the viziers, emirs, and all the officers, that the council was ended, and that every one might retire. They accordingly withdrew, after taking their leave by making a profound reverence at the foot of the throne. There then remained with Abou Hassan only the officers of the caliph's guard and the grand vizier.
"Abou Hassan did not continue long on the throne of the caliph. He descended from it as he had mounted it, with the assistance of Mesrour, and of another officer. Each of his companions took him by an arm and attended him to the apartment in which he was at first. Then Mesrour, walking before him to show him the way, led him into an inner room, where a table was set out. The door of the apartment was open, and a great many eunuchs ran to tell the female musicians that the pretended caliph was coming. They immediately began a very harmonious concert of vocal and instrumental music, which delighted Abou Hassan to such a degree that he was transported with satisfaction and joy, and was quite at a loss what to think of all he saw and heard. 'If this is a dream,' said he to himself, 'it is a dream of a long continuance. But it cannot be a dream, 'continued he, ‘1 am perfectly sensible, I make use of my understanding -I see-I walk-I hear. Be it what it may, I am in the hands of Heaven and must be content. Still, I cannot possibly believe that I am not the Commander of the Faithful. The honours and respect which have been, and are still paid to me, and the rapid execution of my orders are clear proofs of it.'
"Abou Hassan was at last convinced that he was the caliph and the Commander of the Faithful; and this conviction was confirmed in him when he found himself in a very large and richly furnished saloon. Gold shone on all sides, intermixed with the most vivid colours. Seven bands of female musicians, all women of the most exquisite beauty, were posted around this saloon. Seven golden lustres, with the same number of branches, hung from different parts of the ceiling, which was painted in a beautiful pattern-a skilful mixture of gold and azure. In the midst was a table on which gleamed seven large dishes of massive gold, which perfumed the room with the odour of the richest spices used in seasoning the several delicacies. Seven young and very beautiful damsels, dressed in habits of the richest stuffs, stood round the table. Each held a fan in her hand, which was for the purpose of refreshing their lord the caliph while he sat at table.
"If ever mortal was delighted, that mortal was Abou Hassan when he entered this magnificent saloon. At every step he paused to look about him, and contemplate at his leisure all the wonderful things which were presented to his view. At length he walked forward towards the middle of the room and took his place at the table. Immediately the seven beautiful damsels began agitating the air with their fans to refresh the new caliph. He looked at them all in succession; and after admiring the graceful ease with which they performed their office, he said to them, with a gracious smile, that he supposed one of them at a time would be able to give him all the air he wanted; and he desired that the other six should place themselves at the table with him, three on his right and three on his left, and give him their company. The table was round; and Abou Hassan placed these fair companions in such a manner at it that which ever way he looked his eyes rested on objects of beauty and delight. But Abou Hassan perceived that out of respect to him they forbore to eat. This induced him to help them himself. He desired to know their names, and each in turn replied to his questions.
"Their names were Neck-of-Alabaster, Lip-of-Coral, Fair-as-Moonlight, Bright-as-Sunshine, Eye's-desire, Heart 's-delight. He put the same question to the seventh, and she answered that her name was Sugar-Cane. The agreeable things he said to each of them on the subject of their names showed that he had abundance of wit; and this display of his powers greatly heightened the esteem which the caliph had already entertained for him.
"When the damsels saw that Abou Hassan had ceased eating, one of them said to the eunuchs who were in waiting -'The Commander of the Faithful desires to walk into the saloon where the dessert is prepared; let water be brought.' They all rose from the table at the same time; and one took from the hands of the eunuchs a golden basin, another a pitcher of the same metal, the third a napkin, and these they presented on their knees to Abou Hassan, who was still sitting, that he might have an opportunity of washing his hands. Thereupon he rose; and at the same moment an eunuch drew back the arras, and opened the door of another saloon into which he was to go.
"Mesrour, who had not quitted Abou Hassan, walked before him, and conducted him into a saloon as large as that he had left, but adorned with a variety of splendid pictures, and ornamented in quite a different manner, with vases of gold and silver. In this saloon there were also seven other bands of female musicians, different from the former, and these seven choirs of music began a new concert the moment Abou Hassan appeared. This saloon was furnished with seven other large lustres; and on the table in the middle stood seven large golden basins, in which every sort of fruit in season was piled in pyramids, and round the table stood seven other young women, each with a fan in her hand.
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