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Asleep And Awake
by
[Footnote 21] The morning-prayer consists of four inclinations (rek�at) only. A certain fixed succession of prayers and acts of adoration is called a rekah (sing, of rek�at) from the inclination of the body that occurs in it.
[Footnote 22] i.e. the terminal formula of prayer, “Peace be on us and on all the righteous servants of God!”
[Footnote 23] i.e. said “I purpose to make an end of prayer.”
[Footnote 24] Or “linen.”
[Footnote 25] A well-known poet of the time.
[Footnote 26] i.e. Ibrahim of Mosul, the greatest musician of his day.
[Footnote 27] i.e., doughty men of war, guards.
[Footnote 28] The Abbaside Khalifs traced their descent from Abbas, the uncle of Mohammed, and considered themselves, therefore, as belonging to the family of the Prophet.
So he sat down upon the throne of the Khalifate and laid the dagger in his lap, whereupon all [present] came up to kiss the earth before him and called down on him length of life and continuance [of glory and prosperity]. Then came forward Jaafer the Barmecide and kissing the earth, said, “May the wide world of God be the treading of thy feet and may Paradise be thy dwelling-place and the fire the habitation of thine enemies! May no neighbour transgress against thee nor the lights of fire die out for thee, [29] O Khalif of [all] cities and ruler of [all] countries!”
[Footnote 29] i.e. May thy dwelling-place never fall into ruin.
Therewithal Aboulhusn cried out at him and said, “O dog of the sons of Bermek, go down forthright, thou and the master of the police of the city, to such a place in such a street and deliver a hundred dinars to the mother of Aboulhusn the Wag and bear her my salutation. [Then, go to such a mosque] and take the four sheikhs and the Imam and beat each of them with four hundred lashes and mount them on beasts, face to tail, and go round with them about all the city and banish them to a place other than the city; and bid the crier make proclamation before them, saying, ‘This is the reward and the least of the reward of whoso multiplieth words and molesteth his neighbours and stinteth them of their delights and their eating and drinking!'” Jaafer received the order [with submission] and answered with [“Hearkening and] obedience;” after which he went down from before Aboulhusn to the city and did that whereunto he had bidden him.
Meanwhile, Aboulhusn abode in the Khalifate, taking and giving, ordering and forbidding and giving effect to his word, till the end of the day, when he gave [those who were present] leave and permission [to withdraw], and the Amirs and officers of state departed to their occasions. Then the eunuchs came to him and calling down on him length of life and continuance [of glory and prosperity], walked in attendance upon him and raised the curtain, and he entered the pavilion of the harem, where he found candles lighted and lamps burning and singing-women smiting [on instruments of music]. When he saw this, he was confounded in his wit and said in himself, “By Allah, I am in truth Commander of the Faithful!” As soon as he appeared, the slave-girls rose to him and carrying him up on to the estrade,[30] brought him a great table, spread with the richest meats. So he ate thereof with all his might, till he had gotten his fill, when he called one of the slave-girls and said to her, “What is thy name?” “My name is Miskeh,” replied she, and he said to another, “What is thy name?” Quoth she, “My name is Terkeh.” Then said he to a third, “What is thy name?” “My name is Tuhfeh,” answered she; and he went on to question the damsels of their names, one after another, [till he had made the round of them all], when he rose from that place and removed to the wine-chamber.