senses, thereupon he gave him a full cup, and he drank a draught of it and held the cup in his hand till he slept. Then the Commander of the Faithful bade the girl take the cup from his grasp and hide it; so she took it and set it between her thighs, moreover he drew his scymitar and, standing at the head of Abu Nowas, pricked him with the point; whereupon he awoke and saw the drawn sword and the Caliph standing over him. At this sight the fumes of the wine fled from his head and the Caliph said to him, "Make me some verses and tell me therein what is become of thy cup; or I will cut off thy head." So he improvised these couplets,
"My tale, indeed, is tale unlief; * 'Twas yonder fawn who play'd the thief! She stole my cup of wine, before * The sips and sups had dealt relief, And hid it in a certain place, * My heart's desire and longing grief. I name it not, for dread of him * Who hath of it command-in- chief."
Quoth the Caliph, "Allah strike thee dead![FN#391] How knewest thou that? But we accept what thou sayst." Then he ordered him a dress of honour and a thousand dinars, and he went away rejoicing. And among tales they tell is one of
The Man Who Stole the Dish of Gold Wherein The Dog Ate
Sometime erst there was a man, who had accumulated debts, and his case