pain in my arms; my whole body is well, and my whole body is sick."
"What kind of complaint can this be, master?"
And he said, "The cause of this complaint is because this day I fear my father. Seven o'clock has struck, and he will send some one here to take the dates; and I told my father, and to-morrow at seven o'clock you shall taste the dates. What then, am I not become a liar? am I not become a fool? and my father will drive me away as he drove away my brother, because he missed eating the dates."
And he said, "Well, master, what will you do, and the thing is done?"
"Ah! then, what shall I do more." I will go myself before he has sent any one here."
And he set out and went his way. And when he was on the road he met with a man carrying a large dish, and a white napkin to cover the dates with, and a sharp knife to cut the bunches of dates with. And he said, "Hullo, where are you going?" And he said, "I am sent by your father to come to you. Your father sent me to cut one quite ripe bunch from the date-tree, and you to put it in the dish for me, and I am to take it." And he said, "My father wants those that are ripe, the dates there are not ripe yet, go back, let us be going." And he said, "All right!"
And when he arrived at their door he saw his father sitting, he and his four brothers. And he said, "Master, Sabalkheir!" [good morning]. And he said, "Come near." And he said, "Have you seen the man I sent?" And he said, "I have, master." "I told him you would cut him a bunch of dates that was ripe." And he said, "Not to speak of ripe ones, is there an unripe one there?"
"Ah! What did you go to do? People have said, to
