ABU NOWAS WITH THE THREE BOYS AND THE CALIPH HARUN AL-RASHID.[82]
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Burton, Richard Francis, Sir
Now it was the custom of the Commander of the Faithful, when the Divan broke up, to withdraw to his sitting-saloon and summon thither his poets and cup-companions and musicians, each having his own place, which he might not overpass. So it happened that day, he retired to his saloon, and the friends and familiars came and seated themselves, each in his rank and degree. Presently, in walked Abu Nowas and was about to take his usual seat, when the Caliph cried to Masrur, the sworder, and bade him strip the poet of his clothes and bind an ass’s packsaddle on his back and a halter about his head and a crupper under his rump and lead him round to all the lodgings of the slave-girls,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Three Hundred and Eighty-third Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph commanded Masrur, the sworder, to strip Abu Nowas of his court-suit and bind an ass’s packsaddle on his back and a halter about his head, and a crupper under his rump and lead him round to all the lodgings of the slave-girls, and the chambers of the Harim, that the women might make mock of him; then cut off his head and bring it to him. “Hearkening and obedience,” replied Masrur and, doing with Abu Nowas as the Caliph had bidden him, led him round all the chambers whose number equalled the days of the year; but Abu Nowas was a funny fellow, so he made all the girls laugh with his buffooneries and each gave him something whereby he returned not save with a pocketful of money. And while this was going on behold, Ja’afar the Barmecide, who had been absent on an important business for the Commander of the Faithful, entered and recognising the poet, albeit in this plight, said to him, “Holla, Abu Nowas!” He said, “Here at thy service, O our lord.” Ja’afar asked, “What offence hast thou committed to bring this punishment on thee?” Thereupon he answered, “None whatsoever, except that I made our lord the Caliph a present of the best of my poetry and he presented me, in return, with the best of his raiment.” When the Prince of True Believers heard this, he laughed, from a heart full of wrath,[98] and pardoned Abu Nowas, and also gave him a myriad of money. And they also recount the tale of
Source notes
82. Here the “Ana” begin; and they mostly date themselves. Of the following forty-nine, Lane (vol. ii. p. 578 et seq.) gives only twenty-two and transfers them to notes in chapt. xviii. He could hardly translate several of them in a work intended to be popular. Abu Nowás is a person carefully to be avoided; and all but anthropological students are advised to “skip” over anecdotes in which his name and abominations occur.
83. Arab. “Ghilmán,” the counterpart, I have said, of the so-called “Houris.”
84. Mosul boasts of never having been polluted with idolatrous worship, an exemption which it owes to being a comparatively modern place.
85. The Aleppines were once noted for debauchery; and the saying is still “Halabi Shelebi” (for Chelebi) = the Aleppine is a fellow fine.
86. Mr. Payne omits the last line. It refers to what Persian boys call, in half-Turkish phrase, “Alish Takish,” each acting woman after he has acted man. The best wine is still made in monasteries and the so-called Sinai convent is world-famous for its “Ráki” distilled from raisins.
87. i.e. what a difference there is between them!
88. Arab. “Salli ala ‘l-Nabi,” a common phrase; meaning not only praise him to avert the evil eye; but also used when one would impose silence upon a babbler. The latter will shuffle off by ejaculating “Al” and continue his chatter (Pilgrimage ii. 279).
89. Arab. “Sukát” (plur. of Sáki, cupbearer, our old “skinker”): the pure gold (tibr) is the amber-coloured wine, like the Vino d’oro of the Libanus.
90. That is, fair, white and red: Turkish slaves then abounded at Baghdad.
91. A Wady near Meccah where one of Mohammed’s battles was fought. The line means his waist is a thread connected broad breast and large hind quarters.
92. Arab. “Zaurá” which may mean crooked, alluding to the well-known rib.
93. A pun. Bakr was the name of the eponymous chief and it also means virgin, as in Abu Bakr.
94. Arab. “Jámi’ayn” = two cathedrals, any large (and consequently vicious) city.
95. Arab. “Almá,” before noticed: I cannot translate “damask-lipped” to suit European taste.
96. Sherbet flavoured with musk or apple to cool the mouth of “hot coppers.”
97. Arab. “In’ásh” lit. raising from his bier. The whole tone is rollicking and slangy.
98. i.e. In spite of himself: the phrase often occurs.