252 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

and requested them to afford him some charity. “ Come in,”
answered they, “ no one prevents you, and speak to our master ;
he will send you back well satisfied.”

My brother did not expect so much kindness ; and after re-
turning many thanks to the porters, he, with their permission,
entered the palace, which was so large that it took him some
time to find the apartment belonging to the Barmecide. At
length he reached it, and perceived a venerable old man, whose
beard was long and white, sitting on a sofa. In fact, it was the
Barmecide himself, who told him in an obliging manner that he
was welcome, and asked him what he wished. ‘“ My lord,” an-
swered my brother, in a lamentable tone, in order to excite his
pity, “I am a poor man who stands very much in need of the
assistance of such powerful and generous persons as yourself.”

The Barmecide was much astonished at my brother’s answer:
“Ts it possible,” he cried, “that I should live at Bagdad, and
that such a man as you should be so much distressed as you say
you are? I cannot suffer this; you must at once have some-
thing to eat. Here, boy,” added he, raising his voice, “bring us
instantly a basin of water, that we may wash our hands.”

Although no boy made his appearance, and my brother ob-
served neither basin nor water, the Barmecide nevertheless
began to rub his hands, as if some one held the water for him ;
and while he was doing this, he said to my brother, “ Come close
and wash along with me.” Schacabac by this supposed that the
Barmecide was fond of fun, and as he himself liked a little rail-
lery, and was not ignorant of the submission the rich expected
from the poor, he approached him and did the same.

“Come,” said the Barmecide, “now bring us something to
eat, and mind you do not keep us waiting.” He had no sooner
said this than he began, although nothing had been brought to
eat, as if he had taken something in his plate, and pretended to
put it to his mouth and chew it, calling out at the same time to
my brother, “ Eat, I entreat you, my guest ; make yourself quite
at home. Eat, I beg of you: you seem, for a hungry man, to
have but a very poor appetite.” “ Pardon me, my lord,” replied
Schacabac, imitating his motions at the same time very accu-
rately ; “ you see I lose no time, and understand my business
very well.” “It affords me great pieasure,” added the Barme-
cide, “to see you ; and I entreat you tc eat heartily.”, He pre-