Hardly had the Caliph Casid breakfasted the following morning ere the Grand Vizier appeared ready for the appointed walk. We will go together outside the city, snuff a little of this powder, and understand, perhaps, the language of those which fly, swim, or crawl." To his Grand Vizier he said: "I call that a good bargain, Mansor! I should like for once in a way to be an animal. Satisfied with Selim's translation, the Caliph, binding him by solemn oaths not to divulge the secret between them, gave him a new kaftan and sent him away. But he must beware lest during his metamorphosis he laugh if so, he will forget the magic word and remain for ever an animal.'" Should he desire to resume his manhood, he need only turn to the east, bow three times, and repeat the word. Selim read thus: "'Thou, who this findest, praise Allah for his mercy! Whoever snuffs the powder in this box and says "Mutabor," changes himself to the form of an animal, and will be able to understand animal language. "Then if it be Latin, tell us what it says," returned the Caliph. Selim bowed humbly and said: "Thy will be done, great lord!" For some minutes he scanned the writing, then exclaimed: "This is Latin, great lord if not, may I be hanged!" Look at this writing: if you can read it you shall have a fine new coat if you cannot, you shall be bastinadoed on back and feet, and every one shall know that Selim the Scholar has not the wisdom he pretends." "Selim," said the Caliph, "you are said to be well informed. Bid him come hither perhaps he can read these secret instructions." "Gracious lord and master," answered Mansor, "near the great Mosque lives a man named Selim the Scholar, who understands all languages. He was, however, very curious about the meaning of the writing, so asked the Vizier if he knew any one who could translate it. The Caliph, who had in his library many rare manuscripts which he could not decipher, but in the possession of which he took pride, bought both snuff-box and paper and dismissed the pedlar. If you like, you can have them for a trifling sum." "I got these from a merchant in Mecca," said the pedlar, "and do not know what the writing means. The merchant opened the drawer, and showed them a snuff-box containing some black powder, and a small piece of paper, on which was written something which neither the Caliph nor the Vizier could read.
While the merchant was packing up his wares in his box, the Caliph noticed therein a small drawer, and asked what it held. The Caliph and the Vizier turned the articles over and over, and the Caliph bought some fine pistols for himself and Mansor, and for the Vizier's wife a comb. This was the merchant, and he carried a pack containing all sorts of treasures–pearls and rings, richly ornamented pistols, golden cups and combs. Not many moments did he wait ere a little fat man, with sunbrowned face and ragged garments, appeared. The Caliph, who had always rather favoured the Grand Vizier, at once sent a black slave to conduct the merchant to his presence. "Mighty lord, there is really nothing the matter but outside the Castle stands a merchant who has such beautiful wares that I feel quite unhappy that I have no money to spare and to spend." The Grand Vizier crossed his arms on his breast, and bowing low answered: "What is the matter with you to-day, Mansor?" Indeed, at such an hour he was easy to approach, and so every day he received a visit from his Grand Vizier, Mansor.īut on this particular afternoon the Grand Vizier seemed rather thoughtful and disinclined to talk so the Caliph, taking his pipe from his mouth, said: It was evident that the Caliph felt at peace with the world. He drew a few puffs through his long rosewood-stemmed pipe, sipped the coffee brought by an obsequious slave, and stroked his long beard with an air of extreme satisfaction.
It was a very hot day he had had a sound nap, and had awakened in the happiest of moods. A Celebration of Women Writers Hauff's Fairy Tales.ĬONTENTS * How the Caliph became a Stork The Rescue of Fatima The History of Little Mouk The Story of the False Prince The Dwarf's Nose Almansor The Adventures of Saïd The Story of the Stag-Florin A Heart of StoneĪNY years ago, on a lovely afternoon, the Caliph Casid of Bagdad sat at his ease on a luxurious sofa.
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