21
of my lord the Sultan of Bassora, whose slave I was, for that he bought me with his money and died without setting me free; wherefore it behoveth me serve my lord, and all that my hand possesseth of monies and gear is his, nor is anywhit thereof mine.” When the notables of Cairo heard this speech, they arose to Zein ul Asnam and did him exceeding great worship and saluted him with all reverence and prayed for him;[1] and he said, “O company, I am before your presence and ye are witnesses [of that which I am about to do.” Then, turning to his host,] “O Mubarek, [quoth he,] thou art free and all that is with thee of monies and gear appertaining unto us shall henceforth be thine and thou art altogether acquitted thereof[2] and of every part thereof. Moreover, do thou ask of me whatsoever thou desirest by way of boon,[3] for that I will nowise gainsay thee in aught thou mayst seek.”[4] Thereupon Mubarek arose and kissed the prince’s hand and thanked him,
- ↑ i.e. invoked blessings upon him in the manner familiar to readers of the Nights.
- ↑ Lit. thou [art] indulged therein (ent musamih fiha).
- ↑ Mehmy (vulg. for mehma, whatsoever) telebtaha minni min en niam. Burton, “Whatso of importance thou wouldst have of me.”
- ↑ Lit. “in a seeking (request) ever or at all” (fi tilbeti abdan). Burton, “in thy requiring it.”
