nd carried him into the royal presence； where he saw Abousir seated by the king's side and the porter and workmen of the dyery standing before him。 Quoth the porter to him； 'Is not this thy rade whom thou robbedst of his money and leftest with me sick in the khan？' And the workmen said to him； 'Is not this he whom thou badest us seize and beat？'
Therewith Aboukir's baseness was made manifest to the king and he was certified that he merited a punishment yet sorer than that which Munker and Neckir （194） deal ＇to the wicked after death＇。 So he upbraided him and said to his guards； 'Take him and parade him about the city and the markets； then lay him in a sack and cast him into the sea。' Whereupon quoth Abousir； 'O king of the age； accept my intercession for him； for I pardon him all he hath done with me。' 'If thou pardon him his offences against thee；' answered the king； 'I cannot pardon him his offences against me。' And he cried out； saying； 'Take him。' So they took him and paraded him about the city； after which they laid him in a sack into the sea； and he died； drowned and burnt。
Then said the king to the barber； 'O Abousir； ask of me what thou wilt and it shall be given thee。' And he answered； saying； 'I ask of thee to send me back to my own country； for I care no longer to abide here。' Then the king offered to make him his vizier； but he consented not； so he gave him great store of gifts； over and above that which he had bestowed on him aforetime； and amongst the rest a galleon laden with goods； and the crew of this galleon were slaves； so he gave him these also。 Then he took leave of the king and set sail； nor did he cast anchor till he reached Alexandria and made fast to the shore there。 Then they landed and one of his servants； seeing a sack on the beach； said to Abousir； 'O my lord； there is a great heavy sack on the seashore； with the mouth tied up and I know not what therein。' So Abousir came up and opening the sack； found therein the dead body of Aboukir； which the sea had borne thither。 He took it forth and burying it near Alexandria； built over the grave a place of visitation and endowed it for pious uses； writing over the door the following verses：
A man is by his actions known among his fellows aye： The actions of the freeborn man his generous birth betray。
Backbite not any； lest thyself backbitten be in tarn。 Whososaith aught； his fellowmen the like of him will say。
Abstain from lewd and ribald words： I rede thee speak them not At any time； or if it be in earnest or in play。
The dog； good manners if he use； Is suffered in the house； The lion； of his ignorance； is fettered night and day。
The carrion of the waste floats up upon the topmost sea； Whilst on the lowest of its sands the pearls neglected stay。
But for its featherheadedness and levity of wit； The sparrow never with the hawk to jostle would essay。
Lo； on the pages of the air is written； in the sky； 'Whoso doth good； the like thereof his actions shall repay。'
Beware of gathering sugar； then； from out the colocynth： Still in the tasting will the thing its origin bewray。
After this Abousir abode awhile； till God took him to Himself and they buried him hard by the tomb of his rade Aboukir； wherefore the place was called Aboukir and Abousir； but it is now known as Aboukir ＇only＇。 This； then； is that which hath reached us of their history； and glory be to Him who endureth for ever and by whose will the days and nights succeed each other！
ABDALLAH THE FISHERMAN AND ABDALLAH THE MERMAN。
There was once a fisherman named Abdallah； who had a wife and nine children and was very poor； owning nothing but his 。 Every day he used to go to the sea to fish； and if he caught little； he sold it and spent the price on his children； after the measure of that which God vouchsafed him of provision； but； if he caught much； he would cook a good mess of meat and buy fruit and spend without stint till nothing was left him； saying in himself； 'Tomorrow's provision will e tomorrow。' Presently； his wife gave birth to another child； making ten in all； and it chanced that day that he had nothing at all； so she said to him； 'O my master； see ＇and get＇ me wherewithal I may sustain myself。' Quoth he； 'Under favour of God the Most High； I am going today to the sea； to fish in the name of this newborn child； that we may see its luck。' And she answered； 'Put thy trust in God。'
So he took his and went down to the seashore； where he cast it in the name of the little child； saying； 'O my God； make his living easy； not hard； and abundant； not scant！' Then he waited awhile and drew in the ； which came up full of rubbish and sand and pebbles and weeds； and he found therein no fish； neither much not little。 He cast it again and waited； then drew it in； but found no fish in it； and threw it a third and a fourth and a fifth time； with no better success。 So he removed to another place； beseeching God the Most High to grant him his daily bread； and thus he did till the end of the day； but caught not so much as a sprat； whereat he fell amarvelling in himself and said； 'Hath God then created this newborn child； without ＇an appointed＇ provision？ This may never be； He who slits the corners of the mouth hath engaged for its provision； for He is the Bountiful； the Provider！' So saying； he shouldered his and turned homeward； brokenspirited and heavy at heart for his family； for that he had left them without food； more by token that his wife was in the straw。
As he trudged along； saying in himself； 'How shall I do and what shall I say to the children tonight？' he came to a baker's oven and saw a crowd about it； for it was a time of dearth and food was scant with the folk； so they were proffering the baker money； but he paid no heed to any of them； by reason of the much crowd。 The fisherman stood looking and snuffing the smell of the hot bread； and indeed his soul longed for it； by reason of his hunger； till the baker caught sight of him and cried out to him； saying； 'e hither； O fisherman！' So he went up to him； and the baker said to him； 'Dost thou want bread？' But he was silent。 'Speak；' said the baker； 'and be not ashamed； for God is bountiful。 If thou have no money； I will give thee ＇bread＇ and have patience with thee till good ＇fortune＇ betide thee。' 'By Allah； O master；' replied Abdallah； 'I have indeed no money！ But give me bread enough for my family； and I will leave thee this in pawn till the morrow。' 'Nay； good fellow；' rejoined the baker； 'this is ＇as it were＇ thy shop and the means of thy livelihood； （195） so； if thou pawn it； wherewithal wilt thou fish？ Tell me； how much ＇bread＇ will suffice thee？' 'Ten pares' worth；' replied the fisherman。
So he gave him ten pares' worth of bread and ten pares in money； saying； 'Take these ten pares and cook thyself a mess of meat therewith； so wilt thou owe me twenty pares； for which bring me fish tomorrow； but； if thou catch nothing again； e and take thy bread and thy ten pares； and I will have patience with thee till better luck betide thee； when thou shalt bring me fish for all thou owest me。' 'May God the Most High reward thee' said the fisherman； 'and requite thee for me with all good！' Then he took the bread and the money and went away； glad at heart； and buying what he could ＇of meat and vegetables＇； returned to his wife； whom he found sitting up； soothing the children； who were weeping for hunger； and saying to them； 'Your father will be here with what ye may eat。' So he set the bread before them and they ate； whilst he told his wife what had befallen him； and she said； 'God is bountiful。'
On the morrow； he shouldered his and went forth of his house； saying； 'I beseech thee； O Lord； to vouchsafe me this day what shall whiten my face with the baker！' When he came to the seashore； he proceeded to cast his and pull it in； but there came up no fish therein； and he toiled thus till ended day and caught nothing。 Then he set out homeward； in sore concern； and the way to his house lay past the baker's shop； so he said in himself； 'How shall I go home？ But I will hasten past that the baker may not see me。' When he reached the shop； he saw a crowd about it and quickened his pace； being ashamed to face the baker； but the latter raised his eyes to him and cried out to him； saying； 'Ho； fisherman！ e and take thy bread and spendingmoney。 Meseems thou fettest。' 'By Allah；' answered Abdallah； 'I had not fotten； but I was ashamed to face thee； because I have caught no fish today。' 'Be not ashamed；' answered the baker。 'Said I not to thee； 〃At thy leisure； till good hap betide thee？〃'
Then he gave him the bread and the ten pares and he returned and told his wife； who said； 'God is bountiful。 If it please the Most High； good luck shall yet betide thee and thou shalt give the baker his due。' On this wise he did forty days； betaking himself daily to the sea； from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof； and returning ＇at nightfall＇； without fish； and still he took bread and spendingmoney of the baker； who never named the fish to him nor neglected him nor kept him waiting； like the folk； （196） but gave him the bread and the ten pares ＇forthright＇。 Whenever the fisherman said to him； 'O my brother； reckon with me；' he would say； 'Go thy ways； this is no time for reckoning。 ＇Wait＇ till good luck betide thee； and then I will reckon with thee。' And the fisherman would go away； blessing and thanking him。
On the oneandfortieth day； he said to his wife； 'I have a mind to tear up the and be quit of this life。' 'Why wilt thou do this？' asked she。 And he said； 'Meseems there is an end of my getting my living from the sea。 How long shall this last？ By Allah； I am consumed with shame before the baker； and I will go no more to the sea； so I may not pass by his shop； for I have no other way home； and every time I pass； he calls me and gives me the bread and the ten pares。 How much longer shall I run in debt to him？' 'Praised be God the Most High；' replied his wife； 'who hath inclined his heart to thee； so that he giveth thee our daily bread！ What dislikest thou in this？' Quoth he； 'I owe him now a great sum of money； and he will without fail demand his due。' 'Hath he vexed thee with words？' asked his wife。 'Nay；' answered Abdallah；