第109章 STORY OF THE HUNCHBACK(31)

So my brother began to make as if he atewhilst the other said to him'Eat and note the excellence of this bread and its whiteness.'My brother could see nothing and said to himself，'This man loves to jest with the folk.'So he replied'O my lordnever in my life have I seen whiter or more delicious bread.'And the host said'I gave five hundred dinars for the slave-girl who bakes it for me.'Then he called out'Hoboy！

bring the frumenty first and do not spare butter on it.'And turning to my brother'O my guest，'said he'sawst thou ever aught better than this frumenty？ EatI conjure theeand be not ashamed！'Then he cried out again'Hoboy！bring in the pasty with the fatted grouse in it.'And he said to my brother'EatO my guestfor thou art hungry and needest it.'So my brother began to move his jaws and make as if he chewed；whilst the other ceased not to call for dish after dish and press my brother to eatthough not a thing appeared. Presentlyhe cried out'Ho，boy I bring us the chickens stuffed with pistachio-kernels！'

And said to my brother'These chickens have been fattened on pistachio-nuts；eatfor thou hast never tasted the like of them.'O my lord，'replied my brother'they are indeed excellent.'Then the host feigned to put his hand to my brother's mouthas if to feed himand ceased not to name various dishes and expatiate upon their excellence. Meanwhile my brother was starvingand hunger was so sore on him that his soul lusted for a cake of barley bread. Quoth the Barmecide'Didst thou ever taste aught more delicious than the seasoning of these dishes？'

'NeverO my lord，'replied my brother. 'Eat heartily and be not ashamed，'repeated the host. 'O my lord，'said my brother'I have had enough of meat.'So the Barmecide cried out'Take away and bring the sweetmeats.'Then he said'Eat of this almond conservefor it is excellentand of these fritters. My life on theetake this one before the syrup runs out of it！'May I never be bereaved of theeO my lord！'replied my brotherand asked him of the abundance of musk in the fritters. 'It is my custom，'said the other'to have three pennyweights of musk and half that quantity of ambergris put into each fritter.'All this time my brother was wagging his jaws and moving his head and mouthtill the host said'Enough of this！Bring us the dessert.'Then said he to him'Eat of these almonds and walnuts and raisins and of this and that，'naming different kinds of dried fruits'and be not ashamed.'O my lord，'answered my brother'indeed I am full： I can eat no more.'O my guest，'repeated the other'if thou have a mind to eat morefor God's sake do not remain hungry！'O my lord，'replied my brother'how should one who has eaten of all these dishes be hungry？'Then he considered and said to himself 'I will do that which shall make him repent of having acted thus.'Presently the host called out，'Bring me the wine，'and making as if it had comefeigned to give my brother to drinksaying'Take this cupand if it please theelet me know.'O my lord，'replied he'it has a pleasant smellbut I am used to drink old wine twenty years of age.'Then knock at this door，'said his host；'for thou canst not drink of aught better.'O my lordthis is of thy bounty！'replied my brother and made as if he drank. 'Health and pleasure to thee！'exclaimed the hostand feignedin like wise，to fill a cup and drink it off and hand a second cup to my brotherwho pretended to drink and made as if he were drunken.

Then he took the Barmecide unawares and raising his armtill the whiteness of his arm-pit appeareddealt him such a buffet on the neck that the place rang to it. Then he gave him a second cuff and the host exclaimed'What is thisO vile fellow？'O my lord，'replied my brother 'thou hast graciously admitted thy slave into thine abode and fed him with thy victual and plied him with old winetill he became drunk and dealt unmannerly by thee；but thou art too noble not to bear with his ignorance and pardon his offence.'