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vexed, neither do thou vex me.” And he recited these verses:
No good’s in life (to the counsel list of one who’s purpose-whole,) An if thou be not drunken still and gladden not thy soul.
Ay, ne’er will I leave to drink of wine, what while the night on me Darkens, till drowsiness bow down my head upon my bowl.
In wine, as the glittering sunbeams bright, my heart’s contentment is, That banishes hence, with various joys, all kinds of care and dole.
When the Khalif heard these his verses, he was moved to exceeding delight and taking the cup, drank it off, and they ceased not to drink and carouse till the wine rose to their heads. Then said Aboulhusn to the Khalif, “O boon-companion mine, of a truth I am perplexed concerning my affair, for meseemed I was Commander of the Faithful and ruled and gave gifts and largesse, and in very deed, O my brother, it was not a dream.” “These were the delusions of sleep,” answered the Khalif and crumbling a piece of henbane into the cup, said to him, “By my life, do thou drink this cup.” And Aboulhusn said, “Surely I will drink it from thy hand.” Then he took the cup from the Khalifs hand and drank it off, and no sooner had it settled in his belly than his head forewent his feet [and he fell down senseless].
Now his parts and fashions pleased the Khalif and the excellence of his composition and his frankness, and he said in himself, “I will assuredly make him my cup-companion and sitting-mate.” So he rose forthright and saying to Mesrour, “Take him up,” [returned to the palace]. Accordingly, Mesrour took up Aboulhusn and carrying him to the palace of the Khalifate, set him
