NOUREDDIN AND THE BEAUTIFUL PERSIAN, 307

tLe trio then began thoroughly to enjoy themselves. The Beauti-
ful Persian sang several songs charmingly, and the time passed
rapidly and agreeably.

About this time the Beautiful Persian bethought herself that

there was only one light on the table. ‘Scheikh Ibrahim,” said
she to the good old officer, “you have allowed us only one taper,
while there are so many handsome ones about the room. Do us
the favour, I beseech you, to light them, that we may see a little
more clearly. The scheikh, full of the freedom that wine inspires,
called out to this beautiful lady, “ Light them yourself; but take
care not to light more than five or six: that will be sufficient.”
The Beautiful Persian rose up, and taking a wax taper in her
hand, and lighting it by that on the table, proceeded to light
up the whole eighty.
_ Sometime after, while the scheikh was conversing with the
Beautiful Persian upon some other subject, Noureddin, in his
turn, requested him to light tp some of the lustres. Without
observing that all the tapers were burning, “You must,” said
he, “be extremely indolent if you cannot do them yourself.
Go, then, and light them, but remember, not more than three.”
Instead of confining himself to this number, he lighted up the
whole, and afterwards opened the fourscore windows, unob-
served by the scheikh, who was earnestly engaged in conversa-
tion with the Beautiful Persian.

The caliph Haroun Alraschid was not yet retired to his
chamber; he was in a hall of his palace, which fronted the
Tigris, and had on one side a view of the garden and the painted
pavilion. By accident he opened a window on this side, and was
exceedingly surprised to see the pavilion entirely lighted up.
The grand vizier Giafar was still with him, waiting the moment
when the caliph should retire to return to his own home. The
caliph called out to him in a great rage, “ Come here, you care-
less vizier, look at the painted pavilion, and tell me why it is
lighted up, and I not there” ~~

The grand vizier trembled exceedingly, from an apprehension
that what the caliph said might be true; but he trembled much
more when he approached, and found that it really was so.

“ Commander of the Faithful,’ said he, “I can give you no
information on the subject, but I will go to Scheikh Ibrahim”
and obtain an explanation.” ‘Stop,’ said the caliph, “1 will