ملخص الجهاز:
The son of the vizier punished him barbarously for this, but thereby incurred the Sultan's vengeance1• A more honourable official was the sovereign's enter• tainer, the style of whose wit naturally varied with the sovereign's taste.
A work of this sort which awaits publication is ostensibly and probably in fact the material with which Abu Rayyan Tauhidi entertained the Buwaihid vizier Ibn Sa'dan.
Presently, meeting Abu'l• 'Aina in the street, he asked him how he was.
" When Sa'id after conversion to Islam was appointed vizier, Abu'l• 'Aina paid him a call.
" Abu'l-'Aina · replied : " You are the first person whom I have heard threatening with a blessing.
" One day when he paid a call on the vizier Isma 'il Ibn Bulbul, the latter asked him why he had delayed so long.
Abu'l-'Aina said to him: "I invited you out of pity, please leave me out of pity.
Abu'l-'Aina replied that he would have no need of the vizier when he was free (i.
The old lady remained for hours at the door of the strong-room, performing end• less deyotions ; the thief, growing impatient, uttered mysterious sounds, and when asked by the old lady who he was, replied that he was a celestial messenger, sent to warn her son against continuing his evil courses.
The Sultan, hearing of this, summoned the man, who brought his list which proved the rumour to be correct.
He asked the man on what ground he had placed his Sultan at the head of his collection - of fools.