'*1001 nights~Noureddin Ali & Bedreddin Hassan (2)
1001 NIGHTS
The history of Noureddin Ali and Bedreddin Hassan~Part 2
"A venerable old man next addressed him. 'My son,' said he, 'you must be mistaken, for how could you be last night at Cairo, and this morning at Damascus? That cannot be.'
'It is very true, notwithstanding,' replied Bedreddin Hassan, 'and i assure you, moreover, that i passed the whole of yesterday at Balsora.'
He had scarcely uttered these words when they all burst into a laugh, and cried, 'He is mad, he is mad!'
Some, however pitted him on account of his extreme youth, and a man who was looking said, 'My son, you have lost your reason, you know not what you say. How is it possible that a man should be in one day at Balsora, in the same night at Cairo, and the next morning at Damascus?'
'What i tell you,' persisted Bedreddin Hassan, 'is as true as that i was last night married in the city of Cairo.'
All those who had laughed before burst into fresh shouts at hearing this. 'Take care,' resumed the person who had addressed him before, 'you must have dreamt all this, and the illusion still remains impressed on your mind.'
'I know what i am saying,' replied the youth, 'i have not dreamt i was at Cairo, for i am persuaded i was there in reality. But can you tell me what is become of my robe, my turban, and the purse of sequins i had in Cairo?'"
"Although he assured them that all this was true, yet the people who listened to him only laughed at what he said. At lenght he rose and walked into the city, but the crowd followed him, crying out, 'A madman! A madman!'
On hearing this, some of the inhabitants ran to the windows, others came out at their doors, and some joined the throng who had surrounded Bedreddin Hassan, and joined in the cry, 'A madman!' without knowing why they shouted. Tormented by his pursuers, he came to the house of a pastrycook, and entered to escape from the hooting of the mob who followed him."
"The pastrycook had formerly been the chief of a troop of a wandering Arabs who attacked caravans, and although he now established at Damascus, yet he was feared by all who knew anything of his former life. His appearance soon dispersed the mob that followed Bedreddin Hassan. The pastrycook began question the young man, inquiring who he was, and what had led him to Damascus. Bedreddin Hassan related the story of his birth, and told of the death of the grand vizier his father. He then proceeded to relate how he had left Balsora, how, after falling asleep on the tomb of his father, he had awaked to find himself at Cairo, where he married a lady. Lastly, he expressed his surprise at seeing himself in Damascus without being able to understand any of these miracles."
"'Your history is very astonishing,' said the pastrycook, 'but if you follow my advice, you will not disclose to any one the facts you have related to me. You may remain with me till your fortunes change, and, as i have no children, i will adopt you as my son, if you consent. You may then go freely about the city, and will no longer be exposed to the insults of the populace.'"
"Although this proposal conferred no great honour on the son of a great vizier, Bedreddin Hassan nevertheless accepted the pastrycook's offer, judging, very properly, that it was the only step he could take in his present situation. The pastrycook procured him clothes, and, taking witnesses with him, went before a cadi to decleare that he adopted the young man as his son. Bedreddin Hassan resided with him, and only callinp himself by the simple name of Hassan, soon learned the art of making pastry."
"Whilst this was passing in Damascus, the daughter of Schemseddin Mohammed awoke, and, not finding Bedreddin Hassan by her side, concluded that he had risen softly, not to interrupt her slumbers, and that he would soon return. She was still expecting him, when her father, the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed, came to the door of her apartment. He was much affected by the affront he conceived had bee put upon him by the Sultan of Egypt, and came bewail with her on the unhappy destiny to which she had been abandoned. He called her by her name, and she no sooner heard his voice than she rose up to open the door to him. She kissed his hand, and received him with an air of so much satisfaction that the vizier, who expected to find her bathed in tears, and in grief equal to his own, was extremely surprised, 'Miserable one!' cried he, in a angry tone, 'Is it thus you appear before me? Bearing the horrid fate to which you have been sacrificied, can you present yourself to me with a countenance which bespeaks content?'
When the bride perceived her father's displeasure at the joy which brightened her features, she replied, 'My lord, i entreat you not to reproach me so unjustly. I have not been married to that monster the hunchback, who is more detestable in my eyes than the death itself. All the company treated him with such derision and contempt that he was obliged to go away and hide himself, and make room for a charming young man, who is my real husband.'
'What story is this?' cried the grand vizier, 'Was not the hunchback married to you last night?'
'No my lord,' returned she, 'my husband is a young man i was speaking of, who has large eyes and fine black eyebrows.'
At these words Schemseddin Mohammed lost all patience, and put himself in a violent rage with his daughter. 'Ah, foolish girl!' said he, 'Will you make me lose my senses by your incredulity. Is it not true,' persisted the vizier, 'that the hunchbabk...'
'Let us talk no more of the hunchback,' interrupted she, 'evil befall the hunchbach! I again tell you,' she continued, 'that he has not passed the night in my chamber, but my dear husband, whom i have mentioned to you, and indeed he cannot be now at any great distance from hence.'"
"Schemseddin Mohammed went out immediately to look for this husband, but, instead of finding him, he was in the greatest astonishment at seein humpbacked fellow standing on his head with his feet in the air, and in the very position in which the genie had left him. 'What is the meaning of all this?' he asked him, 'Who placed you in this situation?'
The hunchback, who instantly recognized the vizier, answered, 'You are the man who wishes to give me in marriage to the mistress of a buffalo, the one who is in love with a genie? But i won't be your dupe, i promise you.'"
"Schemseddin Mohammed thought the hunchback was out of his senses. 'Get up,' he cried, and stand upon your legs.'
'I will beware how i do that,' answered he, 'unless, indeed, the sun be risen. You must know, that as i was coming here yesterday evening, a large black cat suddenly appeared to me, and it kept increasing in size till it was as large as buffalo. I shall never forget what it said to me, therefore leave me here.'
Instead of complying, the vizier took hold of the hunchback by legs and obliged him to get up. As soon as he was on his legs he ran away as fast as he could. He went directly to the palace, and presented himself before the Sultan of Egypt, who was highly amused at the accoun he gave of the manner in which the genie had treated him."
"Schemseddin Mohammed them went back to his daughter's apartment, quite uncertain how to think to act. 'Unhappy girl,' he said to his daughter, 'can you give me no furter account of this adventure, which confuses and distracts me?'
'My father,' she replied, 'i cannot tell you anything more than i have already honour to relate to you. But see, here is some part of my husband's dress, which he left on this chair, and perhaps this may throw some light on what you wish to discover.'
So saying, she presented the turban of Bedreddin Hassan to the vizier, who examined it attentively. He then said, 'I should conjecture this to be a turban that belonged to a vizier if it were not made in the fashion of those of Moussoul.'
As he was thus turning it over in his hands, he felt something sewn up in the inside of the turban between the folds. He asked, therefore, for scissors, and on unripping the turban, he discovered a paper folded up. This was the packet which Noureddin Ali on his death bed had given to his son Bedreddin Hassan, who had concealed it in his turban. On opening the packet, Schemseddin Mohammed instantly knew the handwriting of his brother Noureddin Ali, and read the following direction. "For my son, Bedreddin Hassan."
Before he had time to reflect on these circumstances, his daughter put into her father's hands the purse which she had found in Bedreddin Hassan's pocket. He immediately opened it, and saw it filled with sequins, for, through the care of the genie and fairy, it had remained full in spite of all the gold that Bedreddin Hassan has bestowed on those around him. Upon a sort of ticket attached to the purse the vizier read these words, "A thousand sequins belonging to the Jew Isaac." And under them was following inscription, which the Jew had written before he had left Bedreddin Hassan, "Delivered to Bedreddin Hassan, in payment for the cargo of the first vessel that arrives in port belonging to him, and which belonged to Noureddin Ali, his father, of happy memory." The vizier had scarcely finished reading these words, when he uttered a loud cry and fainted away."
"When Schemseddin Mohammed recovered from his fainting fit, he exclaimed, 'My daughter, be not surprised at the accident which has just happened to me, so wonderful is the adventure which has caused it, that you will hardly give credit to it. The husband who have passed the night with you is no other than your cousin, the son of Noureddin Ali. The thousand sequins in this purse remaind me of the quarrel i had with my dear brother. Doubt not, this is the wedding present he makes you. Allah be praised for all these things.'
He then looked at the writing in his brother's hand, and kissed it many times, bathing it with his tears. 'Why cannot i see Noureddin Ali himself here,' he exclaimed, 'and be reconciled to him, as well as i see his handwriting, which causes me so much joy?'"
"He read the packet through and found the dates of his brother's arrival at Balsord, of his marriage, and of the birth of Bedreddin Hassan. Then comparing these dates with those of his own marriage and of his daughter's birth at Cairo, he could not help wondering at the coincidence, and remembering that his nephew was his son in law, he gave himself up entirely to the emotions of pleasure to which all these circumstances gave rise."
"Nevertheless Schemseddin Mohammed could not understand why his nephew had disappeared. He expected him to arrive every moment, and awaited his coming with the greatest impatience. When seven days passed, and no Bedreddin Hassan appeared, he ordered him to be sought for in every part of Cairo, but he could not hear no tidings of him, and this caused him much uneasiness. 'This is, indeed,' said he, 'a singular adventure, surely such a strange fate never befell mortal before.'"
"Uncertain what might happen in the course of time, he thought proper himself to write the account of what had taken place, detailing the manner in which the nuptials were celebrated, and how the hall and the chamber of his daughter were furnished. He also carefully preserved the turban, the purse, and the rest of the dress of Bedreddin Hassan."
"After some time the daughter of Schemseddin Mohammed gave birth to a son. A nurse was provided for the child, with other women and slaves to attend upon him, and his grandfather named him Agib."
"When the young Agib had attained the age of seven years, the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed, instead of heaving him taught to read at home, sent him to school to a master who had a great reputation for his learning, and two slaves had the care of conducting him to school and bringing him back every day. Agib used to play with his comrades, and as they were all of much inferior condition to himself they treated him with great deference, and in this the schoolmaster set the example by excusing many faults in Agib which he did not pass over in other scholars. The blind submission with which Agib was treated completely spoiled him. He became proud and insolent. He expected his companions to bear everything for him, but would not return comply with any of their wishes. At last he made himself so obnoxious to all the scholars that they complained of him to the master of the school. The master at first exhorted them to have patience, but perceiving that by so doing he only increased the insolence of Agib, and being tired himself of the trouble that headstrong boy gave, he said to them, 'My boys, i see that Agib is an insolent fellow. I will tell you how to mortify him in a way that will prevent his tormenting you any longer. Indeed, it may perhaps prevent his returning any more to school. Tomorrow when he comes, and you are going to play together, place yourselves round him and let one of you say aloud, 'We are going to play, but every one who wishes to join in the game must tell his name, and that of his father and mother. Those who refuse to do so shall not play with us.''
The master then explained to them how mortified Agib would be, and they all went home with the greatest satisfaction."
"The following day, when they were assembled, they did not fail to do as their master had instructed them. They surrounded Agib, and one of them said, 'Let us play at some game, but on condition that he who cannot tell his name, and that of his father and mother, shall not play with us.'
Agib and all the rest agreed to these conditions. Then the boy who had spoken first interrogated them all, and each answered satisfactory till Agib's turn came. The boy said, 'I am called Agib, my mother is named Queen of Beauty, and my father is Schemseddin Mohammed, the vizier of the sultan.'"
"At these words all the children cried, 'Agib, this is not true, thats is not the name of your father, but of your grandfather.'
'Woe to you!' replied he, angrily, 'Do you dare to say that the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed is not my father?'
The scholars then all laughed at him, and cried out, 'No, no! He is only your grandfather, and you shall not play with us, we will take care not to come near you.'
Then they left him and continued to laugh among themselves. Agib was so mortified that he began to cry."
"The master, who had been listening and heard all that passed, now made his appearance and said to Agib, 'Do not you know yet, Agib, that the vizier Schemsedin Mohammed is not youq father? He is your grandfather, and the father of your mother. Like yourself, we are ignorant of the name of your father, we only know that the sultan wished to marry your mother to one of his grooms who was deformed, but that a genie took the groom's place. This is unpleasant for you, but it ought to teach you to treat your companions with less naughtiness than you have hitherto shown.'"
"Vexet at the jokes of his schoolfellows, little Agib immediately left the school, and returned home in tears. He went first to the apartment of his mother, who, alarmed at seeing him in such grief, anxiously inquired the couse. When he had told her his adventure, he cried out, 'In the name of God, mother, tell me who is my father?'
'My son,' replied she, 'your father is Schemseddin Mohammed, who embraces you every day.'
'You do not tell me the truth,' said Agib, 'he is not my father, but yours. But whose som am i?'
At this Queen of Beauty, recalling to her mind the night of her marriage, which had been followed by so long a widowhood, began to weep bitterly, mourning the loss of a husband so amiable as Bedreddin Hassan."
"The Queen of Beauty and her son Agib were still weeping when the Schemseddin Mohammed entered, and desired to know the cause of their grief. His daughter related the mortification her son had met with at school. This account very soon affected the vizier, who joined his tears with theirs. Being very much disturbed by this cruel reflection, he went to the palace of the sultan, prostrated himself at his master's feet, and humbly entreated permission to take a journey to seek his nephew Bedreddin Hassan, for he could not bear that the whole city should suppose his daughter had been married to a genie. The sultan felt for the grief of the vizier, approved his intention, and gave him leave to execute it. He even wrote a letter or recommendation in the most gracious manner to the princes and nobles in whose dominions Bedreddin Hassan might be, requesting them to autorize the young man's departure with the grand vizier."
"Schemseddin Mohammed immediately began to prepare for his departure, and at the end of four days he set off, accompanied by his daughter and by Agib his grandson."
"They took the road to Damascus, and travelled for nineteen days without stopping, but on twentieth they halted in a beautiful meadow, at a little distance from the gates of the city, and had their tents pitched on the banks of a river."
"The vizier Schemseddin Mohammed decleared his intention of remaining two days in this spot, proposing to continue his journey on the third. He allowed the persons in his suite to visit Damascus. They almost all availed themselves of this permission."
"The Queen of Beauty, who wished that her son Agib should also have the gratification of walking about this celebrated city, ordered the black eunuch who held the office of governor to the child to take Agib into the town, admonishing him to be very careful that the boy did not meet with any accident."
"Agib, who was magnificently dressed, set out with the eunuch. Directly they entered the city, Agib, who was as beautiful as the morning, attracted the admiration of every one. Some ran out from their doors to see him nearer, others came to the windows, and the people who were walking in the streets, not satisfied with stopping to look at him, ran by his side to have the pleasure of contemplating his beauty for a longer time. The eunuch and Agib came by chance to the shop where Bedreddin Hassan was, and, pressed by the throng that surrounded them, they were obliged to stop at his door."
"The pastrycook who had adopted Bedreddin Hassan as his son had been dead some years, and to this adopted son had left his shop and all his property. Bedreddin Hassan therefore, was now master of the shop, and exercised the trade of a pastrycook so successfully that he had aquired a great reputation in Damascus. Observing many people assembled round his door to look at Agib and the black eunuch, Bedreddin Hassan also began to examine them attentively."
"Directly he cast his eyes on Agib he felt himself agitated, without knowing why. He was not struck, like the crowd, with the extreme beauty of the boy, his emotion arose from another cause, which he could not understand. It was the force of nature which moved this tender father, and caused him to approach Agib, and say to him with an engaging air, 'My little lord, you have won my heart. I beg you will do me the favour to walk into my shop, and eat some of my pastry, that i may have the pleasure of admiring you at my leisure.'
Ho pronounced these words with so much tenderness that the tears came into his eyes. Little Agib was affected by his manner, and, turning towards the eunuch, said, 'This good man has a countenance that pleases me, and he speaks to me in so affectionate a manner that i cannot avoid doing what he request. Let us go and eat some of his pastry.'
'Not so,' replied the eunuch, 'it would be a pretty tale to tell that the son of a vizier had gone into a pastrycook's shop to eat, do not think that i shall allow it.'
'Alas! My young master,' cried Bedreddin Hassan, 'those are very cruel who trust you with a man who treats you so harshly.'
Then addressing the eunuch, he continued, 'My good friend, do not prevent this young gentleman from doing me a favour i ask. Rather do me the favour of coming in with him, and thus you will envice that, although you are without as brown as the chestnut, you are as white as that nut within. Do you know, that i have a secret which will change your colour from black to white?'
The eunuch began to laugh on hearing this, and asked Bedreddin Hassan what this secret was. 'I will tell you,' replied the pastrycook, and immediately he recited some verse in praise of black eunuch. The eunuch was delighted with these verses, and no longer resisted the entreaties of Bedreddin Hassan. He suffered Agib to go into the pastrycook's shop, whither he also accompanied him."
"Bedreddin Hassan was extremely pleased at having obtained his request, and, returning to his work, he said, 'I was making some cheesecakes, you must if you please eat some, for i feel sure you will find them excellent.'
Saying this, he drew a cheesecake out of the oven, and, having strewed on it some grains of pomegranate and sugar, he served it to the Agib, who found it delicious. The eunuch, to whom Bedreddin Hassan presented one likewise, was of the same opinion."
"Whilst they were both eating, Bedreddin Hassan examined Agib with the greatest attention, and, reflecting that perhaps the charming wife from whom he had be so soon and cruelly seperated might have brought him such a son, he could not suppress some tears. He was preparing to question the little Agib on the reason of his journey to Damascus, but had not time to satisfy his curiosity, for the eunuch took him away as soon as he had done eating. Bedreddin Hassan was not satisfied with following him with his eyes only, but immediately shutting up his shop, he went out and overtook them by the time they had reached the gate of the city."
"The eunuch, perceiving, that he followed them, said to him angrily, 'Importunate man! What do you want?'
'My good friend,' replied Bedreddin Hassan, 'do not be displeased. I have a little business just beyond the city, which i have thought of, and i must go and give orders concerning it.'
This answer did not satisfy the eunuch, who turned to Agib and said, 'See what you have brought on me. You would go into this man's shop, but indeed i was a fool to suffer it.'
'Perhaps,' said Agib, 'he may really have business beyond the city, and the road is free to all.'
Then they continued walking, without looking behind them, till they had reached the tents of the grand vizier. Then they looked back, and saw that Bedreddin Hassan still followed them closely. Agib, perceiving that the pastrycook was within a few paces of him, feared that the vizier his grandfather would learn that he had been in a pastrycook's shop to eat. Urged by this fear, he took the large stone that lay at his feet and threw it at Bedreddin Hassan. It struck him io the middle of his forehead, and covered him with blood. Agib then ran away as fast as he could into the tent of the eunuch."
"Bedreddin Hassan returned to the city, staunching the blood from his wound. 'I was wrong,' said he to himself, 'to leave my house and occasion so much trouble to the child, for he only treated me thus becouse he no doubt supposed that i had some bad design against him.'
When he reached home he had his wound dressed, and consoled himself with the reflection that there were many people in this world more unfortunate than himself."
"Bedreddin Hassan continued to exercise the business of a pastrycook at Damascus, and his uncle Schemseddin Mohammed left the city three days after his arrival. The vizier took the road at Emaus, and went from thence to Hamah, and thence to Aleppo, where he rested two days. From Aleppo he crossed the Euphrates, entered Mesopotamia, and after traversing Mardin, Moussoul, Sengira, Diabekir, and several other towns, he arrived at last at Balsora, where he directly requested an audience of the sultan. That prince, who had been informed of the rank of Schemseddin Mohammed, immediately granted his request. He received him very favourably, and asked him the couse of his journey to Balsora. 'O King!' replied the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed, 'I come to learn tidings of the son of Noureddin Ali, my brother, who had the honour of serving your majesy.'
'It is a long time since Noureddin Ali died,' said the sultan, 'and as for his son, all that i can tell you is that, about two months after death of his father, he suddenly disappeared, and no one has seen him since, nothwithstanding the pains i have taken to discover him. But his mother, who was the daughter of one of my viziers, is still living.'
Schemsedin Mohammed requested permission to see this lady, and to conduct her into Egypt. The sultan consented, and Schemseddin Mohammed inquired for the abode of this lady, and went to her immediately, accompanied by his daughter and her son."
"The widow of Noureddin Ali lived in the same house which had been occupied by her deceased husband. On entering it he kissed the door and a marble tablet, on which the name of his brother was written in letters of gold. He desired to speak to his sister in law, whose servants informed him that she was in a small edifice, built in a shape of a dome, which they showed him in the middle of a spacious court. This affectionate mother was accustomed to pass the greater part of the day and night in this building, which she had erected to represent the tomb of Bedreddin Hassan, whom she supposed to be dead, after she had long and vainly expected his return. She was then weeping for the loss of this dear son, and Schemseddin Mohammed found her plunged in the deepest affliction."
"He saluted her on entering, and informed her that he had the honour of being her brother in law, and also told her the reason which had caused him to leave Cairo and travel to Balsora. After he had made his sister in law acquainted with all that had happened at Cairo on the night of his daughters nuptials, and the surprise which the discovery of the packet that was found sewn up in Bedreddin Hassan's turban had occasioned, he presented Agib and Queen of Beauty to her."
"When the widow of Noureddin Ali understood that the dear son she so much regretted might still be alive, she rose up and tenderly embraced the Queen of Beauty and little Agib, in whom she recognized the features of Bedreddin Hassan. She kissed the child again and again, and he received her embraces with every demonstration of joy. 'It is time, madam,' said Schemseddin Mohammed, 'to forget your sorrows and to dry your tears, for you must now arrange your affairs, and go with us into Egypt. The sultan of Balsora has given me permission to take you with me, and i trust you will not refuse to come. I hope we shall have the good fortune to meet with my nephew your son.'"
"The widow of Noureddin Ali listened to this proposal with great pleasure, and instantly began to make preparations for departure. Schemseddin Mohammed requested another audience of the sultan, to take leave of that monarch, who sent him back laden with honours. Entrusted with a present for the Sultan of Egypt, he left Balsora, and again took the road to Damascus."
"As soon as they arrived in the vicinity of that city, Schemseddin Mohammed ordered his servants to pitch the tents just without the gate by which they were to enter. He told his people he should remain there three days, that he might rest himself, and also to purchase whatever things were most curious and worthy of being presented to the Sultan of Egypt. While he himself was occupied in selecting the most beautiful stuff, which the principal merchants brought to him, Agib entreated the black eunuch to go and walk with him in the city, declearing that he was desirious of seeing whatever he had not had time visit when was there before, and that he was also very anxious to get some news of the pastrycook whom he had wounded with the stone. The eunuch agreed to the proposal, and walked into the city with him, having first obtained leave of Agib's mother, the Queen of Beauty."
"They entered Damascus, walked through the greatest squares, saw the public buildings, and the covered market where the richest merchendise was sold. Then passed by the shop of Bedreddin Hassan, whom they found still engaged in making cheesecakes. 'Hail to you!' said Agib to him, 'Look at me, do you not remember to have seen me before?'
At these words Bedreddin Hassan cast his eyes upon the boy, and instantly recognized him. At the very same moment, oh, surprising effect of paternal love! He felt the same emotion he had experienced at his first meeting with Agib. He was greatly troubled, and, instead of answering him, he stood for some time unable to speak a single word. At lenght he said, 'Do me a favour, my young lord, once more come into my shop, and eat cheesecake. I beg you will pardon me for displeasure i caused you by following you out of the city. It was a sort of charm which drew me after you, and which i could neither resist nor explain to myself.'"
"Surprised at this speech of Bedreddin Hassan's Agib replied, "The friendship you profess towards me is carried to excess, and i will not come into your house unless you promise faithfully not to follow me when i go away. If you pledge your word and keep it, i will come again tomorrow.'
'My little master,' answered Bedreddin Hassan, 'i will do anything you desire me.'
Agib and eunuch then entered his shop."
"Bedreddin Hassan immediately set before them some cheesecakes. 'Come,' said Agib, 'sit down by me and eat with us.'
When Bedreddin Hassan was seated he was going to embrace Agib, to express to him the joy he experienced at being near him, but Agib pushed him back, saying, 'Be quiet, your friendship is too tender. Be content with looking at and conversing with me.'
Bedreddin Hassan obeyed, and behan to sing a song which he composed at the moment in praise of Agib. He did not eat, but was attentive to serve his guests. When they had finished eating he took a vase of sherbet, and prepared a large china bowlful, in which he put some snow, and presenting the bowl to little Agib. 'Take it,' creid he, 'it is rose sherbet, the most delicious that this city can produce, you never tasted any so good.'
Agib drank some with great pleasure, Bedreddin Hassan then took the bowl and offered it to the eunuch, who drained it to the last drop."
"When Agib and the eunuch were satisfied they thanked the pastrycook for thf good entertainment they had received, and returned as quickly as the could, as it was late. They arrived at the encampment of Scemseddin Mohammed, and went first to the tent which the ladies occupied. The grandmother of Agib was rejoiced to see him again, and as she had always her son Bedreddin Hassan in her mind, she could not refrain from tears on embracing the boy. 'Ah, my child,' cried she, 'my happiness would be complete if i could have the pleasure of embracing your father Bedreddin Hassan as i embrace you.'
She was just going to supper. She made him sit next her, and asked him many questions about his walk. Then saying that he must be hungry, she helped him to a piece of cheesecake of her own making, and it was excellent, for, as we have already said, she could make these cakes better than any pastrycook. She gave some to the eunuch also, but they had both eaten so much that they could hardly touch it."
"Agib had scarcely begun to eat the cheesecake before him when, pretending that it did not suit his plate, he put it back on his plate, and Schaban, for this was the name of the eunuch, did the same. Vexed at seeing her grandson indifferent about her cheesecake, the widow of Noureddin Ali said, 'What, my son! Do you scorn the work of my hands in this way? Let me tell you that no one in the world can make such good cheesecakes excepting your father Bedreddin Hassan, to whom i myself taught the curious art of making them.'
'Ah, my good grandmother,' cried Agib, 'if you cannot make them better than this, ther is a pastrycook in the city who surpasses you in skill. We have just been eating one in his shop, which is a great deal better than this.'"
"At these words the grandmother cast an angry look at the eunuch. 'How! Schaban,' said she, 'is my grandson entrusted to your care that you should take him to eat at a pastrycook's like a beggar's child?'
'O lady,' replied the eunuch, 'it is true that we have been talking to a pastrycook, but we did not eat at his house.'
'Indeed,' interrupted Agib, 'we went into his shop and ate a cheesecake.'
The lady, more angry than ever at the eunuch's deceit, left the table and ran to the tent of Schemseddin Mohammed, whom she informed of this misdemeanour of the eunuch in terms likely to exasperate the vizier against the delinquent."
Please continue to The history of Noureddin Ali and Bedreddin Hassan ~ part 3!
