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"That I promise," said the judge. So my brother began at the beginning
and related all his adventures, and how he had avenged himself on those
who had betrayed him. As to the furniture, he entreated the judge at
least to allow him to keep part to make up for the five hundred pieces
of gold which had been stolen from him.
Heading One
The judge, however, would say nothing about this, and lost no time in
sending men to fetch away all that Alnaschar had taken from the house.
When everything had been moved and placed under his roof he ordered my
brother to leave the town and never more to enter it on peril of his
life, fearing that if he returned he might seek justice from the Caliph.
Alnaschar obeyed, and was on his way to a neighbouring city when he fell
in with a band of robbers, who stripped him of his clothes and left him
naked by the roadside. Hearing of his plight, I hurried after him to
console him for his misfortunes, and to dress him in my best robe. I
then brought him back disguised, under cover of night, to my house,
where I have since given him all the care I bestow on my other brothers.
Heading Two
The Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother
There now remains for me to relate to you the story of my sixth
brother, whose name was Schacabac. Like the rest of us, he inherited a
hundred silver drachmas from our father, which he thought was a large
fortune, but through ill-luck, he soon lost it all, and was driven to
beg. As he had a smooth tongue and good manners, he really did very well
in his new profession, and he devoted himself specially to making
friends with the servants in big houses, so as to gain access to their
masters.
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One day he was passing a splendid mansion,
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with a crowd of servants lounging in the courtyard.
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He
thought that from the appearance of the house it might yield him a
rich harvest,
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so
he entered and inquired to whom it belonged.
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"My good man,
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where do you come from?"
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replied the servant.
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"Can't you see for yourself that it can belong to nobody but a
Barmecide?"
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for the Barmecides were famed for their liberality and generosity. My
brother, hearing this, asked the porters, of whom there were several, if
they would give him alms. They did not refuse, but told him politely to
go in, and speak to the master himself.
Heading Three
My brother thanked them for their courtesy and entered the building,
which was so large that it took him some time to reach the apartments of
the Barmecide. At last, in a room richly decorated with paintings, he
saw an old man with a long white beard, sitting on a sofa, who received
him with such kindness that my brother was emboldened to make his
petition.
Continued
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