HOW YÛNUS THE SCRIBE SOLD HIS
SLAVE-GIRL.
TRANSLATOR'S PREFATORY NOTE.
Abuʾl-Fáraj-ʾAly was a member of the tribe of Kuraish, and a descendant of Marwân-ibn-Muhammad, the last of the ʾOmeyyade Kalîfahs. His family inhabited Ispahân, but he passed his early youth in Baghdâd, and became the most distinguished scholar and most eminent author of that city. His "Kitâb-el-Aghâny," whence this tale is taken, is considered as unequalled. It is said that he was fifty years in compiling it, and that when the Wazîr, Sahib-ibn-Abbâd (who was looked upon as the wonder of his age for wisdom and learning), received it, he found that he could dispense with the thirty camel-loads of books on literary subjects which he was in the habit of taking with him when travelling or changing residence; the "Kitâb-el-Aghâny" being sufficient for him. Abul-Fáraj wrote many other works, and composed much poetry. He was born A.H. 284 (A.D. 897–8), and died at Baghdâd A.H. 356 (A.D. 967). Previous to his death, his fine intellect became disordered.
ABUʾL-FÁRAJ-EL-ISBAHÂNY, in his Kitâb-el-Aghâny (Book of Songs), says, Yûnus the scribe relates as follows.
During the reign of Hishâm-ibn-ʾAbd-el-Málik, I set
