went out to the Ghautah plain,[1] and pitched in a green and luxuriant garden. It was a beautifully bright garden: the ground was covered with divers kinds of flowers, clear yellow, brilliant red, and pure white.
And Sulaimân had a musician named Sinân, whom he had admitted to his friendship, and in whom he confided. And Sulaimân had ordered him to pitch his tent beside his own. And Zhalfâ also had accompanied Sulaimân to his pleasure-ground. And he continued eating and drinking and amusing himself with perfect enjoyment, until the night was far spent, when he retired to his tent, and Sinân did likewise.
And a number of friends came to Sinân, and said to him, "Allâh preserve thee! We want a feast."
"How would you feast?" he asked.
And they replied, "With eating and drinking and music."
"As for eating and drinking," said he, "that is permitted you; but with regard to music, verily ye know the jealousy of the Commander of the Faithful, and his prohibition of that excepting in his presence."
- ↑ The name given to the cultivated country around Damascus.
