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100% found this document useful (15 votes)
39 views

Test Bank for Fundamentals of Python First Programs, 1st Edition - PDF DOCX Format Is Available For Instant Download

The document provides links to various test banks and solution manuals for Python programming and other subjects available for download at testbankmall.com. It includes resources for both the 1st and 2nd editions of 'Fundamentals of Python' and related materials. Additionally, it contains a series of true/false and multiple-choice questions related to computer science concepts.

Uploaded by

zenattoylan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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____ 18. The first electronic digital computers, sometimes called mainframe computers, consisted of vacuum tubes,
wires, and plugs, and filled entire rooms.

____ 19. In the early 1940s, computer scientists realized that a symbolic notation could be used instead of machine
code, and the first assembly languages appeared.

____ 20. The development of the transistor in the early 1960s allowed computer engineers to build ever smaller,
faster, and less expensive computer hardware components.

____ 21. Moore’s Law states that the processing speed and storage capacity of hardware will increase and its cost
will decrease by approximately a factor of 3 every 18 months.

____ 22. In the 1960s, batch processing sometimes caused a programmer to wait days for results, including error
messages.

____ 23. In 1984, Apple Computer brought forth the Macintosh, the first successful mass-produced personal
computer with a graphical user interface.

____ 24. By the mid 1980s, the ARPANET had grown into what we now call the Internet, connecting computers
owned by large institutions, small organizations, and individuals all over the world.

____ 25. Steve Jobs wrote the first Web server and Web browser software.

____ 26. Guido van Rossum invented the Python programming language in the early 1990s.

____ 27. In Python, the programmer can force the output of a value by using the cout statement.

____ 28. When executing the print statement, Python first displays the value and then evaluates the expression.

____ 29. When writing Python programs, you should use a .pyt extension.

____ 30. The interpreter reads a Python expression or statement, also called the source code, and verifies that it is
well formed.

____ 31. If a Python expression is well formed, the interpreter translates it to an equivalent form in a low-level
language called byte code.

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

____ 32. The sequence of steps that describes a computational processes is called a(n) ____.
a. program c. pseudocode
b. computing agent d. algorithm
____ 33. An algorithm consists of a(n) ____ number of instructions.
a. finite c. predefined
b. infinite d. undefined
____ 34. The action described by the instruction in an algorithm can be performed effectively or be executed by a
____.
a. computer c. computing agent
b. processor d. program
____ 35. In the modern world of computers, information is also commonly referred to as ____.
a. data c. input
b. bits d. records
____ 36. In carrying out the instructions of any algorithm, the computing agent starts with some given information
(known as ____).
a. data c. input
b. variables d. output
____ 37. In carrying out the instructions of any algorithm, the computing agent transforms some given information
according to well-defined rules, and produces new information, known as ____.
a. data c. input
b. variables d. output
____ 38. ____ consists of the physical devices required to execute algorithms.
a. Firmware c. I/O
b. Hardware d. Processors
____ 39. ____ is the set of algorithms, represented as programs in particular programming languages.
a. Freeware c. Software
b. Shareware d. Dataset
____ 40. In a computer, the ____ devices include a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone.
a. memory c. input
b. CPU d. output
____ 41. Computers can communicate with the external world through various ____ that connect them to networks
and to other devices such as handheld music players and digital cameras.
a. facilities c. racks
b. ports d. slots
____ 42. The primary memory of a computer is also sometimes called internal or ____.
a. read-only memory (ROM) c. flash memory
b. random access memory (RAM) d. associative memory
____ 43. The CPU, which is also sometimes called a ____, consists of electronic switches arranged to perform
simple logical, arithmetic, and control operations.
a. motherboard c. chip
b. computing agent d. processor
____ 44. Flash memory sticks are an example of ____ storage media.
a. semiconductor c. optical
b. magnetic d. primary
____ 45. Tapes and hard disks are an example of ____ storage media.
a. semiconductor c. optical
b. magnetic d. primary
____ 46. CDs and DVDs are an example of ____ storage media.
a. semiconductor c. optical
b. magnetic d. primary
____ 47. A ____ takes a set of machine language instructions as input and loads them into the appropriate memory
locations.
a. compiler c. loader
b. linker d. interpreter
____ 48. A modern ____ organizes the monitor screen around the metaphor of a desktop, with windows containing
icons for folders, files, and applications.
a. GUI c. terminal-based interface
b. CLI d. applications software
____ 49. ____ programming languages resemble English and allow the author to express algorithms in a form that
other people can understand.
a. Assembly c. Low-level
b. Interpreted d. High-level
____ 50. Early in the nineteenth century, ____ designed and constructed a machine that automated the process of
weaving.
a. George Boole c. Herman Hollerith
b. Joseph Jacquard d. Charles Babbage
____ 51. ____ took the concept of a programmable computer a step further by designing a model of a machine that,
conceptually, bore a striking resemblance to a modern general-purpose computer.
a. George Boole c. Herman Hollerith
b. Joseph Jacquard d. Charles Babbage
____ 52. ____ developed a machine that automated data processing for the U.S. Census.
a. George Boole c. Herman Hollerith
b. Joseph Jacquard d. Charles Babbage
____ 53. ____ developed a system of logic which consisted of a pair of values, TRUE and FALSE, and a set of
three primitive operations on these values, AND, OR, and NOT.
a. George Boole c. Herman Hollerith
b. Joseph Jacquard d. Charles Babbage
____ 54. ____ was considered ideal for numerical and scientific applications.
a. COBOL c. LISP
b. Machine code d. FORTRAN
____ 55. In its early days, ____ was used primarily for laboratory experiments in an area of research known as
artificial intelligence.
a. COBOL c. LISP
b. Machine code d. FORTRAN
____ 56. In science or any other area of enquiry, a(n) ____ allows human beings to reduce complex ideas or entities
to simpler ones.
a. abstraction c. module
b. algorithm d. compiler
____ 57. In the early 1980s, a college dropout named Bill Gates and his partner Paul Allen built their own
operating system software, which they called ____.
a. LISP c. MS-DOS
b. Windows d. Linux
____ 58. Python is a(n) ____ language.
a. functional c. interpreted
b. assembly d. compiled
____ 59. To quit the Python shell, you can either select the window’s close box or press the ____ key combination.
a. Control+C c. Control+Z
b. Control+D d. Control+X
____ 60. In Python, you can write a print statement that includes two or more expressions separated by ____.
a. periods c. colons
b. commas d. semicolons
____ 61. The Python interpreter rejects any statement that does not adhere to the grammar rules, or ____, of the
language.
a. code c. definition
b. library d. syntax
1
Answer Section

TRUE/FALSE

1. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 2


2. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 3
3. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 3
4. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 3
5. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 4
6. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 4
7. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 5
8. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 6
9. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 7
10. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 7
11. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 8
12. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 8
13. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 8
14. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 9
15. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 9
16. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 11
17. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 15
18. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 16
19. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 16
20. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 18
21. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 18
22. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 19
23. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 20
24. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 21
25. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 23
26. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 23
27. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 25
28. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 25
29. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 28
30. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 30
31. ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 30

MULTIPLE CHOICE

32. ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 3


33. ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 3
34. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 3
35. ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 4
36. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 5
37. ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 5
38. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 6
39. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 6
40. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 6
41. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 6
42. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 7
43. ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 7
44. ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 8
45. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 8
46. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 8
47. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 8
48. ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 9
49. ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 9
50. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 14
51. ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 14
52. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 14
53. ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 14-15
54. ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 17
55. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 17
56. ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 18
57. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 21
58. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 23
59. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 25
60. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 25
61. ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 30
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The Three Hundred and Eightieth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good
will! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-
guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-
seeming and worthy celebrating, that the Sultan resolved to travel in
search of his children (the three damsels) he and his Wazir habited
as Darwayshes. So leaving the government in charge of his wife he
went forth and the twain in their search first visited the cities on the
seaboard beginning with the nearest; but they knew not what was
concealed from them in the world of the future. They stinted not
travelling for the space of a month till they came to a city whose
Sultan had a place hight Al-Dijlah[192] whereupon he had built a
Palace. The Darwayshes made for it and found the King sitting in his
Kiosque[193] accompanied by two little lads, the elder eight years old
and the second six. They drew near to him and saluting him offered
their services and blessed him, wishing him length of life as is the
fashion when addressing royalties; and he returned their greetings
and made them draw near and showed them kindness; also, when it
was eventide he bade his men serve them with somewhat of food.
On the next day the King fared forth to Tigris-bank and sat in his
Kiosque together with the two boys. Now the Darwayshes had hired
them a cell in the Khan whence it was their daily wont to issue forth
and wander about the city asking for what they sought; and this day
they again came to the place wherein sat the Sultan and they
marvelled at the fair ordinance of the Palace. They continued to visit
it every day till one day of the days the two went out, according to
their custom, and when entering the Palace one of the King’s
children, which was the younger, came up to them and fell to
considering them as if he had forgotten his own existence. This
continued till the Darwayshes retired to their cell in the caravanserai
whither the boy followed them to carry out the Secret Purpose
existing in the All-knowledge of Allah. And when the two sat down
the Sultan’s son went in to them and fell to gazing upon them and
solacing himself with the sight, when the elder Darwaysh clasped
him to his bosom and fell to kissing his cheeks, marvelling at his
semblance and at his beauty; and the boy in his turn forgot his
father and his mother and took to the old man. Now whenas night
fell the Sultan retired homewards fancying that his boy had foregone
him to his mother while the Sultánah fancied that her child was with
his father, and this endured till such time as the King had entered
the Harem. But only the elder child was found there so the Sultan
asked, “Where is the second boy?” and the Queen answered, “Day
by day thou takest them with thee to Tigris-bank and thou bringest
them back; but to-day only the elder hath returned.” Thereupon they
sought him but found him not and the mother buffeted her face in
grief for her child and the father lost his right senses. Then the high
Officials fared forth to search for their King’s son and sought him
from early night to the dawn of day, but not finding him they
deemed that he had been drowned in Tigris-water. So they
summoned all the fishermen and divers and caused them to drag
the river for a space of four days. All this time and the boy abode
with the Darwayshes, who kept saying to him, “Go to thy father and
thy mother;” but he would not obey them and he would sit with the
Fakirs upon whom all his thoughts were fixed while theirs were fixed
upon him. This lasted till the fifth day when the door-keeper
unsummoned entered the cell and found the Sultan’s son sitting with
the old men; so he went out hurriedly and repairing to the King
cried, “O my Sovran, thy boy is with those Darwayshes who were
wont daily to visit thee.” Now when the Sultan heard the porter’s
words, he called aloud to his Eunuchs and Chamberlains and gave
them his orders; when they ran a race, as it were, till they entered
upon the holy men and carried them from their cell together with
the boy and set all four[194] before the Sultan. The King exclaimed,
“Verily these Darwayshes must be spies and their object was to carry
off my boy;” so he took up his child and clasped him to his bosom
and kissed him again and again of his yearning fondness to him, and
presently he sent him to his mother who was well-nigh frantic. Then
he committed the two Fakirs (with commands to decapitate them) to
the Linkman who took them and bound their hands and bared their
heads and fell to crying, “This be his reward and the least of awards
who turneth traitor and kidnappeth the sons of the Kings;” and as he
cried all the citizens great and small flocked to the spectacle. But
when the boy heard the proclamation, he went forth in haste till he
stood before the elder Darwaysh who was still kneeling upon the rug
of blood and threw himself upon him at full length till the Grandees
of his father forcibly removed him. Then the executioner stepped
forward purposing to strike the necks of the two old men and he
raised his sword hand till the dark hue of his armpit showed[195] and
he would have dealt the blow when the boy again made for the
elder Fakir and threw himself upon him not only once but twice and
thrice, preventing the Sworder’s stroke and abode clinging to the old
man. The Sultan cried, “This Darwaysh is a Sorcerer:” but when the
tidings reached the Sultanah, the boy’s mother, she exclaimed, “O
King, needs must this Darwaysh have a strange tale to tell, for the
boy is wholly absorbed in him. So it is not possible to slay him on
this wise till thou summon him to the presence and question him: I
also will listen to him behind the curtain and thus none shall hear
him save our two selves.” The King did her bidding and commanded
the old man to be brought: so they took him from under the sword
and set him before the King——And Shahrazad was surprised by the
dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say.
Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale,
O sister mine, and enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And
where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the
coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was
the next night and that was

The Three Hundred and Eighty-first Night,


Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good
will! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-
guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-
seeming and worthy celebrating, that at the King’s bidding they took
up the Fakir who was still kneeling under the glaive and set him
before the King who bade him be seated. And when he sat him
down the Sultan commanded all who were in the presence of
Eunuchs and Chamberlains to withdraw, and they withdrew leaving
the Sovran with the old religious. But the second Darwaysh still knelt
in his bonds under the sword of the Sworder who, standing over
against his head, kept looking for the royal signal to strike. Then
cried the King, “O Mendicant, what drove thee to take my son, the
core of my heart?” He replied, “By Allah, O King, I took him not for
mine own pleasure; but he would not go from me and I threatened
him, withal he showed no fear till this destiny descended upon us.”
Now when the Sultan heard these words his heart softened to the
old man and he pitied him while the Sultanah who sat behind the
curtain fell to weeping aloud. Presently the King said, “O Darwaysh,
relate to us thy history, for needs must it be a singular;” but the old
man began to shed tears and said, “O King of the Age, I have a
marvellous adventure which were it graven with needle-gravers upon
the eye corners were a warning to whoso would be warned.” The
Sultan was surprised and replied, “What then may be thy history, O
Mendicant?” and the other rejoined, “O King of the Age, I will
recount it to thee.”[196] Accordingly he told him of his kingship and
the Wazir tempting his wife and of her slaying the nurse, the slave-
girls, and the Eunuch; but when he came to this point the Sultanah
ran out in haste and hurry from behind the curtain and rushing up to
the Darwaysh threw herself upon his bosom. The King seeing this
marvelled and in a fury of jealousy clapped hand to hilt crying to the
Fakir, “This be most unseemly behaviour!” But the Queen replied,
“Hold thy hand, by Allah, he is my father and I am his loving
daughter;” and she wept and laughed alternately[197] all of the
excess of her joy. Hereat the King wondered and bade release the
second religious and exclaimed, “Sooth he spake who said:—
Allah joineth the parted when think the twain ✿ With firmest thought ne’er to
meet again.”

Then the Sultanah began recounting to him the history of her sire
and specially what befel him from his Wazir; and he, when he heard
her words, felt assured of their truth. Presently he bade them
change the habits of her father and of his Wazir and dress them with
the dress of Kings; and he set apart for them an apartment and
allotted to them rations of meat and drink; so extolled be He who
disuniteth and re-uniteth! Now the Sultanah in question was the
youngest daughter of the old King who had been met by the Knight
when out hunting, the same that owed all his fair fortunes to her
auspicious coming. Accordingly the father was assured of having
found the lost one and was delighted to note her high degree; but
after tarrying with her for a time he asked permission of his son-in-
law to set out in quest of her two sisters and he supplicated
Almighty Allah to reunite him with the other twain as with this first
one. Thereupon quoth the Sultan, “It may not be save that I
accompany thee, for otherwise haply some mishap of the world may
happen to thee.” Then the three sat down in council debating what
they should do and in fine they agreed to travel, taking with them
some of the Lords of the land and Chamberlains and Nabobs. They
made ready and after three days they marched out of the city——
And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and
ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad,
“How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and
delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I
would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to
survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was

The Three Hundred and Eighty-second Night,


Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good
will! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-
guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-
seeming and worthy celebrating, that the old King marched forth the
city accompanied by his son-in-law and his Wazir after the Sultan
had supplied his own place by a Viceregent who would carry out his
commandments. Then they turned to travelling in quest of the two
lost daughters and stinted not their wayfare for a space of twenty
days, when they drew near a city lofty of base, and, finding a
spacious camping-plain, thereon pitched their tents. The time was
set of sun, so the cooks applied themselves to getting ready the
evening meal and when supper was served up all ate what sufficed
them, and it was but little because of the travails of travel, and they
nighted in that site until morn was high. Now the ruler of that city
was a Sultan mighty of might, potent of power and exceeding in
energy; and he was surprised to hear a Chamberlain report to him
saying, “O King of the Age, after an eventless night early this
morning we found outside thy capital tents and pavilions with
standards and banners planted overagainst them and all this after
the fashion of the Kings.” The Sovran replied, “There is no help but
that to these creations of Allah some requirement is here: however,
we will learn their tidings.” So he took horse with his Grandees and
made for the ensigns and colours, and drawing near he noted
gravity and majesty in the array and eunuchs and followers and
serving-men standing ready to do duty. Then he dismounted and
walked till he approached the bystanders whom he greeted with the
salam. They salam’d in return and received him with most
honourable reception and highmost respect till they had introduced
him into the royal Shahmiyánah; when the two Kings rose to him
and welcomed him and he wished them long life in such language as
is spoken by Royalties; and all sat down to converse one with other.
Now the Lord of the city had warned his people before he fared forth
that dinner must be prepared; so when it was mid-forenoon the
Farrásh-folk[198] spread the tables with trays of food and the guests
came forward, one and all, and enjoyed their meal and were
gladdened. Then the dishes were carried away for the servants and
talk went round till sunset, at which time the King again ordered
food to be brought and all supped till they had their sufficiency. But
the Sultan kept wondering in his mind and saying, “Would Heaven I
wot the cause of these two Kings coming to us!” and when night fell
the strangers prayed him to return home and to revisit them next
morning. So he farewelled them and fared forth. This lasted three
days, during which time he honoured them with all honour, and on
the fourth he got ready for them a banquet and invited them to his
Palace. They mounted and repaired thither when he set before them
food; and as soon as they had fed, the trays were removed and
coffee and confections and sherbets were served up and they sat
talking and enjoying themselves till supper-tide when they sought
permission to hie campwards. But the Sultan of the city sware them
to pass the night with him; so they returned to their session till the
father of the damsels said, “Let each of us tell a tale that our waking
hours may be the more pleasant.” “Yes,” they replied and all agreed
in wishing that the Sultan of the city would begin. Now by the
decree of the Decreer the lattice-window of the Queen opened upon
the place of session and she could see them and hear every word
they said. He began, “By Allah I have to relate an adventure which
befel me and ’tis one of the wonders of our time.” Quoth they, “And
what may it be?”——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of
day and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth
her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister
mine, and enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this
compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the
Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and
that was

The Three Hundred and Eighty-third Night,


Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good
will! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-
guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair
seeming and worthy celebrating, that the Sultan of the city said, “In
such a year I had a malady which none availed to medicine until at
last an old woman came to me bearing a tasse of broth which when
I drank caused health return to me. So I bade her bring me a cupful
every day and I drank it till, after a time, I chanced to ask her who
made that broth and she answered that it was her daughter. And
one day I assumed a disguise and went to the ancient dame’s house
and there saw the girl who was a model of beauty and loveliness,
brilliancy, symmetric stature and perfect grace, and seeing her I lost
my heart to her, and asked her to wife.” She answered, “How can I
wed; I separated from my sisters and parents and all unknowing
what hath become of them?” Now when the father of the damsels
heard these words, tears rolled down his cheeks in rills and he
remembered his two lost girls and wept and moaned and
complained, the Sultan looking on in astonishment the while; and
when he went to his Queen he found her lying in a fainting fit.
Hereupon he cried out her name and seated her and she on coming
to exclaimed, “By Allah, he who wept before you is my very father:
by Him who created me I have no doubt thereof!” So the Sultan
went down to his father-in-law and led him up to the Harem, and
the daughter rose and met him and they threw their arms round
each other’s necks, and fondly greeted each other. After this the old
King passed the night relating to her what had befallen him while
she recounted to him whatso hath betided her, from first to last,
whereupon their rejoicings increased and the father thanked
Almighty Allah for having found two of his three children. The old
King and his sons-in-law and his Wazir ceased not to enjoy
themselves in the city, eating and drinking[199] and making merry for
a space of two days when the father asked aidance of his daughters’
husbands to seek his third child that the general joy might be
perfected. This request they granted and resolved to journey with
him; so they made their preparations for travel and issued forth the
city together with sundry Lords of the land and high Dignitaries, all
taking with them what was required of rations. Then travelling
together in a body they faced the march. This was their case; but as
regards the third daughter (she who in man’s attire had served the
Kunáfah-baker), after being married to the Sultan his love for her
and desire to her only increased and she cohabited with him for a
length of time. But one day of the days she called to mind her
parents and her kith and kin and her native country, so she wept
with sorest weeping till she swooned away and when she recovered
she rose without stay or delay and taking two suits of Mameluke’s
habits patiently awaited the fall of night. Presently she donned one
of the dresses and went down to the stables where, finding all the
grooms asleep, she saddled her a stallion of the noblest strain and
clinging to the near side mounted him. Then, having supplicated the
veiling of the Veiler, she fared undercover of the glooms for her own
land, all unweeting the way, and when night gave place to day she
saw herself amidst mountains and sands; nor did she know what she
should do. However she found on a hill-flank some remnants of the
late rain which she drank; then, loosing the girths of her horse she
gave him also to drink and she was about to take her rest in that
place when, lo and behold! a lion big of bulk and mighty of might
drew near her and he was lashing his tail[200] and roaring
thunderously.——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day
and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her
sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how
enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared
with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran
suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was

The Three Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night,


Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good
will! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-
guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-
seeming and worthy celebrating, that when the lion advanced to
spring upon the Princess who was habited as a Mameluke, and
rushed to rend her in pieces, she, seeing her imminent peril, sprang
up in haste and bared her blade and met him brand in hand saying,
“Or he will slay me or I slay him.” But as she was hearty of heart she
advanced till the two met and fell to fight and struck each at other,
but the lion waxed furious and gnashed his tusks, now retreating
and now circuiting around her and then returning to front his foe
purposing to claw her, when she heartened her heart and without
giving ground she swayed her sabre with all the force of her forearm
and struck the beast between the eyes and the blade came out
gleaming between his thighs and he sank on earth life-forlore and
weltering in his gore. Presently she wiped her scymitar and returned
it to its sheath; then, drawing a whittle she came up to the carcass
intending to skin it for her own use, when behold, there towered
from afar two dust-clouds, one from the right and the other from the
left, whereat she withdrew from flaying the lion’s fell and applied
herself to looking out. Now by the decree of the Decreer the first
dust-cloud approaching her was that raised by the host of her father
and his sons-in-law who, when they drew near all stood to gaze
upon her and consider her, saying in wonderment one to other, “How
can this white slave (and he a mere lad) have slain this lion single-
handed? Walláhi, had that beast charged down upon us he had
scattered us far and wide, and haply he had torn one of us to
pieces. By Allah, this matter is marvellous!” But the Mameluke
looked mainly at the old King whom he knew to be his sire for his
heart went forth to him. Meanwhile the second dust-cloud
approached until those beneath it met the others who had foregone
them, and behold, under it was the husband of the disguised
Princess and his many. Now the cause of this King marching forth
and coming thither was this. When he entered the Palace intending
for the Harem, he found not his Queen, and he fared forth to seek
her and presently by the decree of the Decreer the two hosts met at
the place where the lion had been killed. The Sultan gazed upon the
Mameluke and marvelled at his slaying the monster and said to
himself, “Now were this white slave mine I would share with him my
good and stablish him in my kingdom.” Herewith the Mameluke
came forward and flayed the lion of his fell and gutted him; then,
lighting a fire he roasted somewhat of his flesh until it was
sufficiently cooked all gazing upon him the while and marvelling at
the heartiness of his heart. And when the meat was ready, he carved
it and setting it upon a Sufrah[201] of leather said to all present,
“Bismillah, eat, in the name of Allah, what Fate hath given to you!”
Thereupon all came forward and fell to eating of the lion’s flesh
except the Princess’s husband who was not pleased to join them and
said, “By Allah, I will not eat of this food until I learn the case of this
youth.”[202] Now the Princess had recognised her spouse from the
moment of his coming, but she was concealed from him by her
Mameluke’s clothing; and he disappeared time after time then
returned to gaze upon the white slave, eyeing now his eyes now his
sides and now the turn of his neck and saying privily in his mind,
“Laud to the Lord who created and fashioned him! By Allah this
Mameluke is the counterpart of my wife in eyes and nose, and all his
form and features are made likest-like unto hers. So extolled be He
who hath none similar and no equal!” He was drowned in this
thought but all the rest ate till they had eaten enough; then they sat
down to pass the rest of their day and their night in that stead.
When it was dawn each and every craved leave to depart upon his
own business; but the Princess’s husband asked permission to
wander in quest of her while the old King, the father of the damsels,
determined to go forth with his two sons-in-law and find the third
and last of his lost daughters. Then the Mameluke said to them, “O
my lords, sit we down, I and you, for the rest of the day in this place
and to-morrow I will travel with you.” Now the Princess for the
length of her wanderings (which began too when she was a little
one) had forgotten the semblance of her sire; but when she looked
upon the old King her heart yearned unto him and she fell to talking
with him, while he on his part whenever he gazed at her felt a like
longing and sought speech of her. So the first who consented to the
Mameluke’s proposal was the sire whose desire was naught save to
sit beside her; then the rest also agreed to pass the day reposing in
that place, for that it was a pleasant mead and a spacious, garnished
with green grass and bright with bourgeon and blossom. So they
took seat there till sundown when each brought out what victual he
had and all ate their full and then fell to conversing; and presently
said the Princess, “O my lords, let each of you tell us a tale which he
deemeth strange.” Her father broke in saying, “Verily this rede be
right and the first to recount will be I, for indeed mine is a rare
adventure.” Then he began his history telling them that he was born
a King and that such-and-such things had befallen him and so forth
until the end of his tale; and the Princess hearing his words was
certified that he was her sire. So presently she said, “And I too have
a strange history.”——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of
day and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth
her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister
mine, and enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this
compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the
Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and
that was
The Three Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and
goodwill! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the
right-guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-
seeming and worthy celebrating, that the Princess in Mameluke’s
habit said, “And I too have a strange history.” Then she fell to
relating all that had betided her from the very beginning to that
which hath before been described; and when her father heard it he
felt assured that she was his daughter. So he arose and threw
himself upon her and embraced her and after he veiled her face with
a kerchief was with him, and her husband exclaimed, “Would to
Heaven that I also could forgather with my wife.” Quoth she,
“Inshallah, and that soon,” and she inclined to him after kindly
fashion and said to herself, “Indeed this be my true husband.”
Herewith all resolved to march from that stead and they departed,
the Princess’s spouse still unknowing that she was his wife; and they
stinted not faring till they entered the Sultan’s city and all made for
the Palace. Then the Princess slipped privily into the Harem without
the knowledge of her mate and changed her semblance, when her
father said to her husband, “Hie thee to the women’s apartment:
haply Allah may show to thee thy wife.” So he went in and found her
sitting in her own apartment and he marvelled as he espied her and
drew near her and threw his arms round her neck of his fond love to
her and asked her concerning her absence. Thereupon she told him
the truth saying, “I went forth seeking my sire and habited in a
Mameluke’s habit and ’twas I slew the lion and roasted his flesh over
the fire, but thou wouldest not eat thereof.” At these words the
Sultan rejoiced and his rejoicings increased and all were in the
highmost of joy and jolliment; he and her father with the two other
sons-in-law, and this endured for a long while. But at last all deemed
it suitable to revisit their countries and capitals and each farewelled
his friends and the whole party returned safe and sound to their own
homes.[203]
THE STORY OF THE KAZI WHO BARE A BABE.
[204]

It hath been related that in Tarábulus-town[205] of Syria was a Kází


appointed under orders of the Caliph Hárún al-Rashíd to adjudge
law-suits and dissolve contracts and cross-examine witnesses; and
after taking seat in his Mahkamah[206] his rigour and severity became
well known to all men. Now this judge kept a black handmaiden
likest unto a buffalo-bull and she cohabited with him for a
lengthened while; for his nature was ever niggardly nor could
anyone wrest from him half a Faddah or any alms-gift or aught else;
and his diet was of biscuit[207] and onions. Moreover, he was
ostentatious as he was miserly: he had an eating-cloth bordered
with a fine bell-fringe,[208] and when any person entered about
dinner-time or supper-tide he would cry out, “O handmaid, fetch the
fringed table-cloth;” and all who heard his words would say to
themselves, “By Allah, this must needs be a costly thing.” Presently
one day of the days his assessors and officers said to him, “O our
lord the Kazi, take to thyself a wife, for yon negress becometh not a
dignitary of thy degree.” Said he, “An this need be, let any who hath
a daughter give her to me in wedlock and I will espouse her.”
Herewith quoth one present, “I have a fair daughter and a
marriageable,” whereto quoth the Kazi, “An thou wouldst do me a
favour this is the time.” So the bride was fitted out and the espousals
took place forthright and that same night the Kazi’s father-in-law
came to him and led him in to his bride saying in his heart, “I am
now connected with the Kazi.” And he took pleasure in the thought
for he knew naught of the judge’s stinginess and he could not
suppose but that his daughter would be comfortable with her mate
and well-to-do in the matter of diet and dress and furniture. Such
were the fancies which occurred to him; but as for the Kazi, he lay
with the maid and abated her maidenhead; and she in the morning
awaited somewhat wherewith to break her fast and waited in vain.
Presently the Kazi left her and repaired to his court-house whither
the city-folk came and gave him joy of his marriage and wished him
good morning, saying in themselves, “Needs must he make a mighty
fine bride-feast.” But they sat there to no purpose until past noon
when each went his own way privily damning the judge’s
penuriousness. As soon as they were gone he returned to his Harem
and cried out to his black wench, “O handmaiden, fetch the fringed
table-cloth;” and his bride hearing this rejoiced, saying to herself,
“By Allah, his calling for this cloth requireth a banquet which
befitteth it, food suitable for the Kings.” The negress arose and
faring forth for a short time returned with the cloth richly fringed and
set upon it a Kursi-stool,[209] and a tray of brass whereon were
served three biscuits and three onions. When the bride saw this, she
prayed in her heart saying, “Now may my Lord wreak my revenge
upon my father!” but her husband cried to her, “Come hither, my
girl,” and the three sat down to the tray wherefrom each took a
biscuit and an onion. The Kazi and the negress ate all their portions,
but the bride could not swallow even a third of the hard bread
apportioned to her; so she rose up, heartily cursing her father’s
ambition in her heart. At supper-tide it was the same till the state of
things became longsome to her and this endured continuously for
three days, when she was ready to sink with hunger. So she sent for
her sire and cried aloud in his face. The Kazi hearing the outcries of
his bride asked, “What is to do?” whereupon they informed him that
the young woman was not in love with this style of living.——And
Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and
ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad,
“How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and
delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I
would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to
survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good
will! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-
guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-
seeming and worthy celebrating, that the bride was not in love with
the Kazi’s mode of living; so he took her and cut off her nose and
divorced her, falsely declaring that she had behaved frowardly. On
the next day he proposed for another wife and married her and
entreated her in like fashion as the first; and when she demanded a
divorce, he shredded off her nostrils and put her away; and
whatever woman he espoused he starved by his stinginess and
tortured with hunger, and when any demanded a divorce he would
chop off her nose on false pretences and put her away without
paying aught either of her marriage settlement or of the contingent
dowry. At last the report of that Kazi’s avarice came to the ears of a
damsel of Mosul-city, a model of beauty and loveliness who had
insight into things hidden and just judgment and skilful contrivance.
Thereupon, resolved to avenge her sex, she left her native place and
journeyed till she made Tarábulus; and by the decree of the Decreer
at that very time the judge, after a day spent in his garden,
purposed to return home so he mounted his mule and met her half-
way between the pleasance and the town. He chanced to glance at
her and saw that she was wondrous beautiful and lovely,
symmetrical and graceful and the spittle ran from his mouth wetting
his mustachios; and he advanced and accosting her said, “O thou
noble one, whence comest thou hither?” “From behind me!” “Connu.
I knew that; but from what city?” “From Mosul.” “Art thou single and
secluded or femme couverte with a husband alive.” “Single I am
still!” “Can it be that thou wilt take me and thou become to me mate
and I become to thee man?” “If such be our fate ’twill take place
and I will give thee an answer to-morrow;” and so saying the damsel
went on to Tarábulus. Now the Kazi after hearing her speech felt his
love for her increase; so next morning he sent to ask after her, and
when they told him that she had alighted at a Khan, he despatched
to her the negress his concubine with a party of friends to ask her in
marriage, notifying that he was Kazi of the city. Thereupon she
demanded a dower of fifty dinars and naming a deputy caused the
knot be knotted and she came to him about evening time and he
went in to her. But when it was the supperhour he called as was his
wont to his black handmaiden saying “Fetch the fringed table-cloth,”
and she fared forth and fetched it bringing also three biscuits and
three onions, and as soon as the meal was served up all three sat
down to it, the Kazi, the slave-girl, and the new bride. Each took a
biscuit and an onion and ate them up and the bride exclaimed “Allah
requite thee with wealth. By Allah, this be a wholesome supper.”
When the judge heard this he was delighted with her and cried out,
“Extolled be the Almighty for that at last He hath vouchsafed to me a
wife who thanketh the Lord for muchel or for little!” But he knew not
what the Almighty had decreed to him through the wile and guile,
the malice and mischief of women. Next morning the Kazi repaired
to the Mahkamah and the bride arose and solaced herself with
looking at the apartments, of which some lay open whilst others
were closed. Presently she came to one which was made fast by a
door with a wooden bolt and a padlock of iron: she considered it and
found it strong but at the threshold was a fissure about the breadth
of a finger; so she peeped through and espied gold and silver coins
heaped up in trays of brass which stood upon Kursi-stools and the
nearest about ten cubits from the door. She then arose and fetched
a long wand, the mid-rib of a date-palm,[210] and arming the end
with a lump of leaven she pushed it through the chink under the
door and turned it round and round upon the money-trays as if
sewing or writing. At last two dinars stuck to the dough and she
drew them through the fissure and returned to her own chamber;
then, calling the negress, she gave her the ducats saying, “Go thou
to the Bazar and buy us some mutton and rice and clarified butter;
and do thou also bring us some fresh bread and spices and return
with them without delay.” The negress took the gold and went to the
market, where she bought all that her lady bade her buy and
speedily came back, when the Kazi’s wife arose and cooked a
notable meal, after which she and the black chattel ate whatso they
wanted. Presently the slave brought basin and ewer to her lady and
washed her hands and then fell to kissing her feet, saying, “Allah
feed thee, O my lady, even as thou hast fed me, for ever since I
belonged to this Kazi I have lacked the necessaries of life.” Replied
the other, “Rejoice, O handmaiden, for henceforth thou shalt have
every day naught but the bestest food of manifold kinds;” and the
negress prayed Allah to preserve her and thanked her. At noon the
Kazi entered and cried, “O handmaid fetch the fringed cloth,” and
when she brought it he sat down and his wife arose and served up
somewhat of the food she had cooked and he ate and rejoiced and
was filled and at last he asked, “Whence this provision?” She
answered, “I have in this city many kinsfolk who hearing of my
coming sent me these meats and quoth I to myself, When my lord
the Kazi shall return home he shall make his dinner thereof.” On the
next day she did as before and drawing out three ducats called the
slave-girl and gave her two of them bidding her go to the Bazar and
buy a lamb ready skinned and a quantity of rice and clarified butter
and greens and spices and whatso was required for dressing the
dishes. So the handmaid went forth rejoicing, and bought all her
lady had ordered and forthwith returned when her mistress fell to
cooking meats of various kinds and lastly sent to invite all her
neighbours, women and maidens. When they came she had got
ready the trays garnished with dainty food[211] and served up to
them all that was suitable and they ate and enjoyed themselves and
made merry. Now this was about mid-forenoon, but as midday drew
near they went home carrying with them dishes full of dainties which
they cleared and washed and sent back till everything was returned
to its place.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and fell
silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister
Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and
enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared
with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran
suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was
The Three Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night,
Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good
will! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-
guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-
seeming and worthy celebrating, that the guests of the Kazi’s wife
fared from her before turn of sun; and, when it was noon, behold,
the Kazi entered his Harem and said, “O handmaiden, fetch the
fringed table-cloth,” when the wife arose and set before him viands
of various sorts. He asked whence they came and she answered
saying, “This is from my maternal aunt who sent it as a present to
me.” The judge ate and was delighted and abode in the Harem till
set of sun. But his wife ceased not daily to draw money from his
hoard and to expend it upon entertaining her friends and gossips,
and this endured for a whole year. Now beside her mansion dwelt a
poor woman in a mean dwelling and every day the wife would feed
her and her husband and babes; moreover she would give them all
that sufficed them. The woman was far gone with child and the
other charged her saying, “As soon as ’tis thy time to be delivered,
do thou come to me for I have a mind to play a prank upon this Kazi
who feareth not Allah and who, whenever he taketh to himself a
wife, first depriveth her of food till she is well nigh famished, then
shreddeth off her nose under false pretences and putteth her away
taking all her belongings and giving naught of dower either the
precedent or the contingent.” And the poor woman replied, “To hear
is to obey.” Then the wife persisted in her lavish expenditure till her
neighbour came to her already overtaken by birth-pains, and these
lasted but a little while when she was brought to bed of a boy.
Hereupon the Kazi’s wife arose and prepared a savoury dish called a
Baysárah,[212] the base of which is composed of beans and gravied
mallows[213] seasoned with onions and garlic. It was noon when her
husband came in and she served up the dish; and he being
anhungered ate of it and ate greedily and at supper time he did
likewise. But he was not accustomed to a Baysárah, so as soon as
night came on his paunch began to swell; the wind bellowed in his
bowels; his stress was such that he could not be more distressed
and he roared out in his agony. Herewith his wife ran in and cried to
him, “No harm shall befal thee, O my lord!” and so saying she
passed her hand over his stomach and presently exclaimed “Extolled
be He, O my lord; verily thou art pregnant and a babe is in thy
belly.”——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell
silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister
Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how
enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared
with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran
suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was

The Three Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night,


Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good
will! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-
guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-
seeming and worthy celebrating, that the Kazi’s wife came up to him
and passing her palm over his paunch presently cried, “Extolled be
He, O my lord: verily thou art pregnant and a babe is in thy belly.”
Quoth the Kazi, “How shall a man bear a child?” and quoth she,
“Allah createth whatso He willeth.” And as they two sat at talk the
flatulence and belly-ache increased and violent colic[214] set in and
the torments waxed still more torturing. Then the wife rose up and
disappeared but presently she returned with her pauper neighbour’s
newly-born babe in her sleeve, its mother accompanying it: she also
brought a large basin of copper and she found her husband rolling
from right to left and crying aloud in his agony. At last the
qualms[215] in his stomach were ready to burst forth and the rich
food to issue from his body, and when this delivery was near hand
the wife privily set the basin under him like a close stool and fell to
calling upon the Holy Names and to shampooing and rubbing down
his skin while she ejaculated, “The name of Allah be upon thee!”[216]
But all this was of her malice. At last the prima via opened and the
Kazi let fly, whereat his wife came quickly behind and setting the
babe upon its back gently pinched it so that it began to wail, and
said, “O man Alhamdolillah,—laud to the Lord, who hath so utterly
relieved thee of thy burthen,” and she fell to muttering Names over
the new-born. Then quoth he, “Have a care of the little one and
keep it from cold draughts;” for the trick had taken completely with
the Kazi and he said in his mind, “Allah createth whatso He willeth:
even men if so predestined can bring forth.” And presently he added,
“O woman, look out for a wet nurse to suckle him;” and she replied,
“O my lord, the nurse is with me in the women’s apartments.” Then
having sent away the babe and its mother she came up to the Kazi
and washed him and removed the basin from under him and made
him lie at full length. Presently after taking thought he said, “O
woman, be careful to keep this matter private for fear of the folk
who otherwise might say:—Our Kazi hath borne a babe.” She replied,
“O my lord, as the affair is known to other than our two selves how
can we manage to conceal it?” and after she resumed, “O my
husband, this business can on no wise be hidden from the people for
more than a week or at most till next month.” Herewith he cried out,
“O my calamity; if it reach the ears of folk and they say:—Our Kazi
hath borne a babe, then what shall we do?” He pondered the matter
until morning when he rose before daylight and, taking some
provaunt secretly, made ready to depart the city, saying, “O Allah,
suffer none to see me!” Then, after giving his wife charge of the
house and bidding her take care of his effects and farewelling her,
he went forth secretly from her and journeyed that day and a
second and a third until the seventh, when he entered Damascus of
Syria where none knew him. But he had no spending money for he
could not persuade himself to take even a single dinar from his
hoard and he had provided himself with naught save the meagrest
provision. So his condition was straitened and he was compelled to
sell somewhat of his clothes and lay out the price upon his urgent
needs; and when the coin was finished he was forced to part with
other portions of his dress till little or nothing of it remained to him.
Then, in his sorest strait, he went to the Shaykh of the Masons and
said to him, “O master, my wish is to serve in this industry;”[217] and
said he, “Welcome to thee.” So the Kazi worked through every day
for a wage of five Faddahs. Such was his case; but as regards his
wife,——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell
silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister
Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and
enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared
with that I would relate to you on this coming night an the Sovran
suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was
the

The Three Hundred and Ninetieth Night,


Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good
will! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-
guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-
seeming and worthy celebrating, that when the Kazi went forth from
his wife she threw a sherd[218] behind him and muttered “Allah never
bring thee back from thy journey.” Then she arose and threw open
the rooms and noted all that was in them of moneys and moveables
and vaiselle and rarities, and she fell to feeding the hungry and
clothing the naked and doling alms to Fakírs saying, “This be the
reward of him who mortifieth the daughters of folk and devoureth
their substance and shreddeth off their nostrils.” She also sent to the
women he had married and divorced, and gave them of his good the
equivalent of their dowers and a solatium for losing their noses. And
every day she assembled the goodwives of the quarter and cooked
for them manifold kinds of food because her spouse the Kazi was
possessed of property approaching two Khaznahs[219] of money, he
being ever loath to expend what his hand could hend and
unprepared to part with aught on any wise, for the excess of his
niggardness and his greed of gain. Nor did she cease from so doing
for a length of time until suddenly she overheard folk saying, “Our
Kazi hath borne a babe.” And such bruit spread abroad and was
reported in sundry cities, nor ceased the rumour ere it reached the
ears of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid in Baghdad city. Now hearing it
he marvelled and cried, “Extolled be Allah! this hap, by the Lord,
never can have happened save at the hand of some woman, a wise
and a clever at contrivance; nor would she have wrought after such
fashion save to make public somewhat erst proceeding from the
Kazi, either his covetous intent or his high-handedness in
commandment. But needs must this goodwife be summoned before
me and recount the cunning practice she hath practised;—Allah
grant her success in the prank she hath played upon the Judge.”
Such was her case; but as concerns the Kazi, he abode working at
builders’ craft till his bodily force was enfeebled and his frame
became frail; so presently quoth he to himself, “Do thou return to
thy native land, for a long time hath now passed and this affair is
clean forgotten.” Thereupon he returned to Tarábulus, but as he
drew near thereto he was met outside the city by a bevy of small
boys who were playing at forfeits, and lo and behold! cried one to
his comrades, “O lads, do ye remember such and such a year when
our Kazi was brought to bed?”[220] But the Judge hearing these
words returned forthright to Damascus by the way he came, saying
to himself, “Hie thee not save to Baghdad city for ’tis further away
than Damascus!” and set out at once for the House of Peace.
However he entered it privily, because he was still in the employ of
the Prince of True Believers, Harun al-Rashid; and, changing
semblance and superficials, he donned the dress of a Persian
Darwaysh and fell to walking about the streets of the capital. Here
met he sundry men of high degree who showed him favour, but he
could not venture himself before the Caliph albe sundry of the
subjects said to him, “O Darwaysh, why dost thou not appear in the
presence of the Commander of the Faithful? Assuredly he would
bestow upon thee many a boon, for he is a true Sultan; and,
specially, an thou panegyrise him in poetry, he will largely add to his
largesse.” Now by the decree of Destiny the Viceregent of Allah upon
His Earth had commanded the Kazi’s wife be brought from
Tarabulus: so they led her into the presence and when she had
kissed ground before him and salam’d to him and prayed for the
perpetuity of his glory and his existence, he asked her anent her
husband and how he had borne a child and what was the prank she
had played him and in what manner she had gotten the better of
him. She hung her head groundwards awhile for shame nor could
she return aught of reply for a time, when the Commander of the
Faithful said to her, “Thou hast my promise of safety and again
safety, the safety of one who betrayeth not his word.” So she raised
her head and cried, “By Allah, O King of the Age, the story of this
Kazi is a strange——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of
day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say.” Then quoth
her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how
enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared
with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran
suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and that was

The Three Hundred and Ninety-first Night,


Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good
will! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-
guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-
seeming and worthy celebrating, that quoth the Kazi’s wife, “By
Allah, O King of the Age, the story of this Kazi is a strange and of the
wonders of the world and ’tis as follows. My spouse is so niggardly
of nature and greedy of gain that whatso wife he weddeth he
starveth her with hunger and, whenas she loseth patience, he
shreddeth her nostrils and putteth her away, taking all her good and
what not. Now this case continued for a while of time. Also he had a
black slave-wench and a fine eating-cloth and when dinner-time
came he would cry, O handmaid, fetch the fringed table-cloth!
whereupon she would bring it and garnish it with three biscuits and
three onions, one to each mouth. Presently accounts of this conduct
came to me at Mosul, whereupon I removed me to Tarábulus, and
there played him many a prank amongst which was the dish of
Baysár by me seasoned with an over quantity of onions and garlic
and such spices as gather wind in the maw and distend it like a tom-
tom and breed borborygms.[221] This I gave him to eat and then
befel that which befel. So I said to him, Thou art in the family way
and tricked him, privily bringing into the house a new-born babe.
When his belly began to drain off I set under him a large metal basin
and after pinching the little one I placed it in the utensil and recited
Names over it. Presently quoth he, Guard my little stranger from the
draught and bring hither a wet-nurse; and I did accordingly. But he
waxed ashamed of the birth and in the morning he fared forth the
city nor knew we what Allah had done with him. But as he went I
bespake him with the words which the poet sang when the Ass of
Umm Amr went off:—
Ass and Umm Amr[222] bewent their way; ✿ Nor Ass nor Umm Amr returned for
aye;

and then I cited the saying of another:—


When I forced him to fare I bade him hie, ✿ Where Umm Kash’am[223] caused her
selle to fly.”

Now as the Caliph Harun al-Rashid heard these words he laughed so


hearty a laugh that he fell backwards and bade the goodwife repeat
her history till he waxed distraught for excess of merriment, when lo
and behold! a Darwaysh suddenly entered the presence. The wife
looked at her husband and recognised him; but the Caliph knew not
his Kazi, so much had time and trouble changed the Judge’s cheer.
However, she signalled to the Commander of the Faithful that the
beggar was her mate and he taking the hint cried out, “Welcome to
thee, O Darwaysh, and where be the babe thou barest at
Tarabulus?” The unfortunate replied, “O King of the Age, do men go
with child?” and the Prince of True Believers rejoined, “We heard
that the Kazi bare a babe and thou art that same Kazi now habited
in Fakir’s habit. But who may be this woman thou seest?” He made
answer “I wot not;” but the dame exclaimed, “Why this denial, O
thou who fearest Allah so little? I conjure thee by the life of the King
to recount in his presence all that betided thee.” He could deny it no
longer so he told his tale before the Caliph, who laughed at him
aloud; and at each adventure the King cried out, “Allah spare thee
and thy child, O Kazi!” Thereupon the Judge explained saying,
“Pardon, O King of the Age, I merit even more than what hath
betided me.”——And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day
and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her
sister Dunyazad, “How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine,
and enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this
compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the
Sovran suffer me to survive?” Now when it was the next night and
that was

The Three Hundred and Ninety-second Night,


Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good
will! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-
guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-
seeming and worthy celebrating, that quoth the Kazi to the King, “I
deserve even more than what hath betided me for my deeds were
unrighteous, O Ruler of the Time. But now the twain of us be
present between thy hands; so do thou, of thy generous grace and
the perfection of thy beneficence, deign reconcile me unto my wife
and from this moment forwards I repent before the face of Allah nor
will I ever return to the condition I was in of niggardise and greed of
gain. But ’tis for her to decide and on whatever wise she direct me
to act, therein will I not gainsay her; and do thou vouchsafe to me
the further favour of restoring me to the office I whilome held.”
When the Prince of True Believers, Harun al-Rashid, heard the Kazi’s
words he turned to the Judge’s wife and said, “Thou also hast heard
what thy mate hath averred: so do thou become to him what thou
wast before and thou hast command over all which thy husband
requireth.” She replied, “O King of the Age, even as thou hast the
advantage of knowing, verily the Heavens and the son of Adam
change not; for that man’s nature is never altered except with his
existence nor doth it depart from him save when his life departeth.
However, an he speak the truth let him bind himself by a deed
documented under thy personal inspection and thine own seal; so
that if he break his covenant the case may be committed to thee.”
The Caliph rejoined, “Sooth thou sayest that the nature of Adam’s
son is allied to his existence;” but the Kazi exclaimed, “O our lord the
Sultan, bid write for me the writ even as thou hast heard from her
mouth and do thou deign witness it between us twain.” Thereupon
the King reconciled their differences and allotted to them a livelihood
which would suffice and sent them both back to Tarabulus-town.
This is all that hath come down to us concerning the Kazi who bare
a babe: yet ’tis as naught compared with the tale of the Bhang-
eaters, for their story is wondrous and their adventures delectable
and marvellous. “What may it be?” asked Shahryar; so Shahrazad
began to recount
THE TALE OF THE KAZI AND THE BHANG-
EATER.[224]

There was a certain eater of Bhang——And Shahrazad was surprised


by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted
say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O
sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And
where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the
coming night an the King suffer me to survive?” Now when it was
the next night and that was

The Three Hundred and Ninety-third Night,


Dunyazad said to her, “Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be
other then sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the
watching of this our latter night!” She replied:——With love and good
will! It hath reached me, O auspicious King, the director, the right-
guiding, lord of the rede which is benefiting and of deeds fair-
seeming and worthy celebrating, that there was a certain eater of
Bhang whose wont it was every day to buy three Faddahs’ worth of
hemp and he would eat one third thereof in the morning and a
second at noon and the rest about sundown. He was by calling a
fisherman; and regularly as dawn appeared he would take hook and
line and go down to the river a-fishing; then he would sell of his
catch a portion, expending half a Faddah on bread and eat this with
the remaining part of the fish broiled. He would also provide himself
day by day with a waxen taper and light it in his cell and sit before

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