116 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

The norse itself immediately after spread its wings, took flight,
and disappeared. I rose up much afflicted at the misfortune,
which I had thus voluntarily brought upon myself, and started
in the direction of Bagdad.

During my journey, I shaved my beard and eyebrows, and
put on the habit of a calender. I was a long time on the road,
and it was only this evening that I arrived in this city. At the
entrance of one of the gates I encountered these two calenders,
my brethren, who were equally strangers with myself. We were
all much surprised with each other at the singular circumstance
of having each lost our right eye. We had not, however, much
leisure to converse on the subject of our mutual misfortune.
We had only time, madam, to implore your assistance, and
which you have so generously afforded us.

When the third calender had finished the recital of his history,
Zobeidé, addressing herself both to him and his brethren, said,
“« Depart, you are all three at liberty to go wherever you please.”
“ Pardon, madam,” answered one of them, “ we beg of you our
curiosity, and permit us to stay and hear the adventures of these
gentlemen, who have not yet spoken.” The lady then turned to
the side where the caliph, the vizier Giafar, and Mesrour, of
whose real situation and character she was still ignorant, wee,
and desired each of them to relate his history.

The grand vizier, Giafar, who was always prepared to speak,
immediately answered Zobeidé. “In order to obey you, madam,”
said he, “ we have only to repeat to you what we already related
before we entered. We are,’ he continued, “merchants of
Moussoul, and we are come to Bagdad for the purpose of trading
with our merchandise, which we have placed in the warehouses
belonging to the khan where we live. We dined to-day toge-
ther, with many others of our profession, at a merchant's of this
city, who, after treating us with the most delicate viands and
finest wines, had ordered a company of male and female dancers,
and a set of musicians, both vocal and instrumental. The great
noise and uproar which we all made attracted the notice of the
watch, who came and arrested many of the guests, but we had
the good fortune to escape. As, however, it was so very late,
and the door of our khan would be shut, we knew not where to
go to. It happened accidentally that we passed through yeur