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laves take them； for they are a gift from me to you。' So they obeyed his mandment and took each his own； whilst the barber said to the king； 'God ease thee； O king of the age； even as thou hast eased me of these ghouls； whom none may fill save God！' The king laughed； and gave him reason； then； taking the grandees of his realm； returned to his palace； but Abousir passed the night in counting his money and laying it up in bags and sealing them； and he had with him twenty black slaves and a like number of white and four slavegirls to serve him。
On the morrow； as soon as it was day； he opened the bath and sent out a crier to make proclamation； saying； 'Whoso entereth the bath and washeth shall give that which he can afford and which his generosity deemeth fit。' Then he seated himself by the chest and customers flocked in upon him； each putting down that which was easy to him； nor was eventide e before the chest was full of the good gifts of God the Most High。 Presently the queen desired to go to the bath； and when this came to Abousir's knowledge； he divided the day； on her account； into two parts； appointing the time between daybreak and noon to the men and that between noon and sundown to the e； he stationed a female slave behind the paychest； for he had taught four slavegirls the service of the bath； so that they were bee expert bathwomen。 So； when the queen entered； this pleased her and her breast dilated and she laid down a thousand dinars。
On this wise his report was noised abroad in the city； and all who entered the bath he entreated with honour； were they rich or poor； and good came in upon him at every door。 Moreover he made acquaintance with the king's officers and got him friends and panions。 The king himself used to e to him one day in every week； and the other days of the week were for rich and poor alike； and he was wont to deal courteously with the folk and use them with the utmost of consideration。 It chanced that the king's seacaptain came in to him one day in the bath； so Abousir put off his clothes and going in with him； proceeded to shampoo him and entreated him with the utmost courtesy。 When he came forth； he made him sherbet and coffee； and when he would have given him somewhat； he swore that he would accept nothing from him。 So the captain abode under obligation to him； by reason of his exceeding kindness and courtesy to him； and kne his generous dealing with him。
Meanwhile Aboukir； bearing all the people talking rapturously of the bath and saying； 'Verily； this bath is the Paradise of this world！ God willing； O such an one； thou shalt go with us tomorrow to this delectable bath；' said to himself； 'Needs must I go like ＇the rest of the＇ folk and see this bath that hath taken their wits。' So he donned his richest clothes and mounting a mule； rode to the bath； attended by four white slaves and four black； walking before and behind him。 When he alighted at the door； he smelt the fragrance of burning aloeswood and saw people going in and out and the benches full of great and small。 So he entered the vestibule and saw Abousir； who rose to him and rejoiced in him： but the dyer said to him； 'Is this the fashion of men of honour？ I have opened me a dyery and am bee masterdyer of the city and acquainted with the king and have risen to fortune and lordship； yet camest thou not to me nor askedst of me nor saidst； 〃Where is my rade？〃 For my part； I sought thee in vain and sent my slaves and Servants to make search for thee in all the inns and other places； but they knew not whither thou hadst gone； nor could any give me news of thee。' Quoth Abousir； 'Did I not e to thee and didst thou not make me out a thief and beat me and disgrace me before the folk？'
At this Aboukir made a show of concern and said； 'What manner of talk is this？ Was it thou whom I beat？' 'Yes；' answered Abousir； 'it was I。' Whereupon Aboukir swore to him a thousand oaths that he knew him not and said； 'There was a fellow like unto thee； who used to e every day and steal the people's stuff； and I took thee for him。' And he went on to feign repentance； beating hand upon hand and saying； 'There is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High； the Supreme！ Indeed； I have sinned against thee； but would that thou hadst made thyself known to me and said； 〃I am such an one！〃 Indeed the fault is with thee； for that thou madest not thyself known unto me； more by token that I was distraught for much business。' 'God pardon thee； o my rade！' replied Abousir。 'This was foreordained； and reparation is with God。 Enter and put off thy clothes and bathe at thine ease。' 'I conjure thee by Allah； O my brother；' said the dyer； 'five me！' And Abousir said； 'God acquit thee of blame and five thee！ Indeed this thing was decreed to me from all eternity。'
Then said Aboukir； 'Whence gottest thou this lordship？' 'He who prospered thee prospered me；' answered Abousir。 'For I went up to the king and set forth to him the fashion of the bath； and he bade me build one。' And the dyer said； 'Even as thou art an acquaintance of the king； so also am I； and God willing； I will make him love and barr tender thee more than ever； for my sake； for he knows not that thou art my rade； but I will tell him of this and mend thee to him。' 'There needs no mendation；' answered Abousir； 'for He who inclib ＇men's hearts unto love＇ is ＇ever＇present； and indeed the king and all his court love me ＇already＇ and have given me this and that。' And he told him the whole story and said to him； 'Put off thy clothes behind the chest and enter the bath； and I will go in with thee and shampoo thee。' So he put off his clothes and Abousir； entering the bath with him； soaped him and shampooed him and busied himself with his service till he came forth； when he brought him the morning meal and sherbets； whilst all the folk marvelled at the honour he did him。
Then Aboukir would have given him somewhat； but he swore that he would take nothing from him and said to him； 'Shame upon thee！ Thou art my rade； and there is no difference between us。' 'By Allah； O my rade；' said Aboukir； 'this is a fine bath of thine； but there lacks one thing to thy fashion therein。' 'And what is that？' asked Abousir。 'It is the depilatory； to wit； the paste pounded of orpiment and quicklime；' answered the dyer； 'that removes the hair with ease。 Do thou prepare it and next time the king es； present it to him； teaching him how he shall cause the hair fall off by means thereof； and he will love thee with an exceeding love and honour thee。' Quoth Abousir； 'Thou sayst sooth； and if it be the will of God the Most High； I will do this。'
Then Aboukir mounted his mule and riding to the palace； went in to the king and said to him； 'O king of the age； I have a warning to give thee。' 'And what is thy warning？' asked the king。 Quoth Aboukir； 'I hear that thou hast built a bath。' 'Yes； answered the king； 'there came to me a stranger and I founded the bath for him； even as I founded the dyery for thee； and indeed it is a magnificent bath and an ornament to my city。' And he went on to set forth to him the virtues of the bath。 'Hast thou entered therein？' asked the dyer。 And the king answered； 'Yes。' 'Praised be God；' exclaimed Aboukir； 'who hath preserved thee from the mischief of yonder villain and enemy of the faith； to wit； the bathkeeper！' 'And what of him？' asked the king。 'Know； O king of the age；' replied Aboukir； 'that； if thou enter the bath again； after this day； thou wilt surely perish。' 'How so？' inquired the king； and the dyer answered； 'This bathkeeper is thine enemy and the enemy of the faith； and he induced thee not to set up this bath but because he designed to poison thee therein。 He hath made for thee somewhat which； when thou enterest the bath； he will present to thee； saying； 〃This is an unguent； which if one apply to his privy parts； it will remove the hair with ease。〃
Now it is no unguent； but a deadly drug and a violent poison； for the Sultan of the Christians hath promised this filthy fellow to release to him his wife and children； if he will kill thee； for they are captives in the hands of the Sultan in question。 I myself was captive with him in their land； but I opened a dyery and dyed for them various colours； so that they inclined the king's heart unto me and he bade me ask a boon of him。 I sought of him freedom and he set me free； whereupon I made my way hither； and seeing yonder man in the bath； asked him how he had effected his escape and that of his wife and children。 Quoth he； 〃We ceased not to be in captivity； I and my wife and children； till one day the King of the Christians held a court； at which I was present； amongst a number of other people。 Presently； I heard them discourse of the kings and name them； one after another； till they came to the name of the king of this city； whereupon the King of the Christians cried out； 'Alas！' and said； 'None irketh me （191） in the world； but the king of such a city！ （192） Whosoever will contrive me his slaughter； I will give him all he asks。' So I went up to him and said； 'If I contrive thee his slaughter； wilt thou set me free； me and my wife and children？' 'Yes；' answered the king； 'and I will give thee ＇to boot＇ whatsoever thou shalt desire。
So we agreed upon this