THE STORY OF ABOU HASSAN. 451

To these offers Abou Hassan replied, ‘I can only thank you for your
obliging offers, and the honour you have done me in partaking of my
frugal fare. Yet I must tell you there is one thing gives me uneasiness.
The imaun of the mosque situated in the district in which I live is the
greatest of hypocrites. He and four of his friends try to lord it over
me and the whole neighbourhood. I should like to be caliph but for
one day, in the stead of our sovereign lord and master, Haroun Alras-
chid, Commander of the Faithful. I would punish the imaun and his
four friends with a hundred strokes each on the soles of their feet, to
teach them not to disturb and abuse their neighbours in future.’

The caliph was extremely pleased with this thought of Abou Hassan’s;
and while Abou Hassan was talking, he took the bottle and two
glasses, and filling his own first, said, ‘Here is a cup of thanks to
you,’ and then filling the other, put into it artfully a little opiate
powder, which he had about him, and giving it to Abou Hassan, said,
‘You have taken the pains to fill for me all night, and it is the least I
can do to save you the trouble once: I beg you to take this glass ;
drink it off for my sake.’

Abou Hassan took the glass, and to show his guest with how much
pleasure he received the honour, drank it off ab once. Scarcely had he
set the glass upon the table, when the powder began to operate, and he
fell into a sound sleep. The caliph commanded the slave who waited
for him to take Abou Hassan and carry him directly to the palace, and
to undress him and put him into his own state bed. This was immedi-
ately performed.

The caliph next sent for the grand vizier. ‘Giafar,’ said he, ‘I have
sent for you to instruct you, and to prevent your being surprised
to-morrow, when you come to audience, at seeing this man seated on
my throne in the royal robes; accost him with the same reverence and
respect as you pay to myself; observe and punctually execute whatever
he bids you do, the same as if I commanded you. He will exercise
great liberality, and commission you with the distribution of it. Do all
he commands; even if his liberality should extend so far as to empty
all the coffers in my treasury ; and remember to acquaint all my emirs,
and officers within the palace, to pay him the same honour at audience
as to myself, and to carry on the matter so well that he may not
perceive the least thing that may interrupt the diversion which I
design myself. Above all, fail not to awaken me before Abou Hassan,
because I wish to be present when he awakes.’

The vizier failed not to do as the caliph had commanded, and as
soon as the caliph had dressed, he went into the room where Abou
Hassan lay, and placed himself in a little raised closet, from whence
he could see all that passed. All the officers and ladies, who were to
attend Abou Hassan’s levee, went in at the same time, and took their
posts according to their rank, ready to acquit themselves of their re-
spective duties, as if the caliph himself had been going to rise.

As it was just daybreak, and time to prepare for the mere prayer