第50章 THE PORTER AND THE THREE LADIES OF BAGHDAD.(25)

Then I revived and took heart and enteringfound myself in a place strewn with saffron and blazing with light shed by lamps of gold and candlesthat diffused a scent of musk and aloes. In the midst stood two great censersfull of burning aloes wood and ambergris and other perfumesand the place was full of their fragrance. Presently I espied a horseblack as night at its darkestgirt and bridled and saddled with red goldstanding before two mangers of white crystalone full of winnowed sesame and the other of rose-water flavoured with musk. When I saw this，I was amazed and said to myself'Surely this horse must be of extraordinary value！'and the devil tempted meso that I took him out and mounted himbut he would not stir. So I spurred him with my heelbut he did not move；and I took a. switch and struck him with it. When he felt the blowhe gave a neigh like the roaring thunderand spreading a pair of wings flew up with me high into the air. After awhilehe descended and set me down on the terrace of a palace；thenshaking me off his backhe smote me on the face with his tail and struck out my right eye and flew awayleaving me there. I went down into the palace and found myself again among the ten one-eyed youthswho exclaimed，when they saw me'An ill welcome to thee！'Quoth I'BeholdI am become like unto youand now I would have you give me a dish of sootthat I may blacken my face and admit me to your company.'By Allah，'answered they'thou shalt not abide with us！Depart hence！'And they drove me away. I was grieved at their rejection of me and went out from themmourning-hearted and tearful-eyedsaying to myself'Of a truthI was sitting at my easebut my impertinent curiosity would not let me be.'Then I shaved my beard and eyebrows and renouncing the worldbecame a Calender and wandered about God's earthtill by His blessingI arrived at Baghdad in safety this evening and met with these two other Calenders standing bewildered. So I saluted themsaying，'I am a stranger；'to which they replied'We also are strangers.'

Andas it chancedwe were all Calenders and each blind of the right eye. ThisthenO my ladyis my story and the manner of the shaving of my face and the loss of my eye.'Quoth the mistress of the house'Begone about thy business.'But he said，'By AllahI will not gotill I hear the others'stories！'Then she turned to the Khalif and his companions and said'Give me an account of yourselves.'So Jaafer came forward and repeated the story he had told the portress；whereupon the lady said'I pardon you all： go your ways.'So they all went out；and when they reached the street the Khalif said to the Calenders'O folk，whither are you bound nowseeing that it is not yet day？'By AllahO my lord，'answered they'we know not where to go！'

'Then come and pass the rest of the night with us，'said the Khalifand turning to Jaafersaid to him'Take them home with thee and to-morrow bring them before methat we may cause their adventures to be recorded.'Jaafer did as the Khalif bade himand the latter returned to his palace. Sleep did not visit him that nightbut he lay awakepondering the adventures of the three Calenders and full of impatience to know the history of the two ladies and the black bitches；and no sooner had the day dawned than he went out and sat down on his chair of estate.

Then his courtiers presented themselves and withdrewwhereupon he turned to Jaafer and said to him'Bring me the three ladies and the bitches and the Calendersand make haste.'So Jaafer went out and brought them all before him and seated the ladies behind a curtain；then turned to them and saidspeaking for the Khalif'O womenwe pardon you your rough usage of usin consideration of your previous kindness and for that ye knew us not： and now I would have you to know that you are in the presence of the fifth of the sons of Abbasthe Commander of the Faithful Haroun er Reshidson of El Mehdi Mohammedson of Abou Jaafer el Mensour. So do ye acquaint him with your stories and tell him nothing but the truth.'When the ladies heard Jaafer's speechthe eldest came forward and said'O Commander of the Faithfulmy story is one whichwere it graven with needles on the corners of the eyewould serve for an example to those who can profit by example and a warning to those who can take warning. And it is that The Eldest Lady's Story.