The Thousand and One Days

ntention was to place in this high station an inert, weak, and indolent man, who would allow them to be their own ma

ies, the conversation, or the gossiping going on all around him. Hadgi-Achmet seemed to them to be just the sort of apathetic man they were in search of, a man who would never interfere with any one, would allow th

came under his observation; having a stern, strange habit of knitting his shaggy eyebrows and flashing his brilliant eyes whenever any thing mean or wicked came under his notice. All this was very displeasing to the Turkish janissaries, and to several members of the divan. Four of these latter formed a species of plot with the design of bringing Hadgi-Achme

the weight, the quality, and the value of his goods. Thou knowest well the law which condemns such offenders to lose an ear. This man was seized, carried before the cadi, and his rogueries being but too apparent, condemned by the cadi to lose his left ear, the right being reserved in the event of fresh misdemeanors. But when the man's turban was removed, it was discovered that his left ear was already gone. The cadi, being informed of the

d fire upon him who had just spoken, and upon all those who were presen

ther turban nor any head-dress whatsoever to conceal the mutilation of thy ears. Purchasers, on beholding this mutilat

ery one and at all times the mutilation he had undergone, was a far wo

, a second member of the

y. He had this son and two others. One day, about ten years ago, Ibrahim, his neighbour, who was childless, said to him, 'Chamyl, give me thy youngest son, I will adopt him; he shall live in my house, inh

Ormed, the son of Chamyl, went to live with Ibrahim, who soon loved him very te

ires to take back Ormed, saying, 'This child is henceforth the sole h

h he bears to his adopted son. On the contrary, his affection continues daily to strengthen for this

t Ormed shall remain? with his

self to Chamyl, said, "In wh

ons: a house, a ship, several

s be removed?" a

em can," re

"couldst not thou, if necessary, dispose

," repli

hy sons who are dead, couldst thou transf

mpossible," replied

dgi-Achmet; "and as it forms part of the heart of man, it is

ord," answ

him whom thou lovest. For which reason, Chamyl, I condemn thee to leave with Ibrahim the child whom he loves, and whom thou voluntarily gavest him when t

hamyl, "and I will have him,

oofs of it so long as thy two other children were alive. Moreover, thou hast taken a h

r," murmur

ore poor men than rich men, yet we do not see poor m

d my son," cried Chamyl

t him in exchange for a house. Ibrahim has not deserved that the child whom he so tenderly loves should be taken from him, and I order him to be left with him. But s

amyl. What Allah has left to us is sufficient for our wants. Permit Chamyl then to preserve the right

for a house, can never attach himself to the orphan or the unfortunate. I see no reason to alter the judgment I ha

t, which seemed to him unjust, but which appeared

the divan then add

to the law. She accuses her husband of leaving her to perish with hunger, whilst her husband here maintains that the woman tells an infamous untruth, and that he supplies her with ample means for becoming fat and strong; he adds, that the famished locusts from the

him who had just spoken, and upon those present at this audience. Then he said, "

ord," repl

t thou still maintain that thy husban

oice, and extending her transparent hands and long thin arms

demanded Hadgi-

pport several wives if I wished, but it ple

then dost thou not give to this one all she desires, even supposin

her any thing,

veiled wo

from thee a pension which will enable her to purchase whatever food she may desire. If at the end of a year of peace and plenty she should still possess that feeble voice and that excessive thinness which inspire my compassion, I shall regard her as inflicted with an incurable malady, and will leave her to go and die ben

nt at this audience. Mahmoud withdrew only too sure of being hung next year

f there remains any other cause fo

yed, a fourth member of the divan presented himself. "Here, my lord," said h

is just dead. After having deplored his loss, they said to each other: 'The roof of our father's dwelling has sheltered us t

e. The article in question is a holy amulet, which it is said bestows wisdom on him who wears it upon his breast beneath his t

knit his brows, again his eyes flashe

other, who so earnestly desires it, th

y reconcile myself to my brother's being ric

turned to the

eld to thy brother the amu

ws upon its possessor the things of the earth, but those a

his breast beneath his tunic the cherished amu

ith thy brother, and that to obtain this peace there is no sacrifice too great? To yield to thy brother is the beginning and the end of wisdo

my brother, slaves, diamonds, house-my entire fortune; but I will never

ast not changed thy mind then! w

anded the precious

ace this amulet upon thy br

ast than he felt so lively a joy that he would have embraced h

thee. Thy heart is opened to wisdom, and thou wilt renounce foolish quarrels, wilt thou not, and yield

let! I feel myself capable of plunging my dagger into the bosom of an

e notwithstanding you have both worn it upon your breast, you have nevertheless preserved your animosity and unjust pretensions in the dispute in question. For which reason I ordain that this precious talisman, o

crossed the threshold of the palace, than they were reconciled to each other, avowing th

four judgments, knit his brows once more, and turning

prove it; but I know well that men such as you prefer proving their zeal by actions, rather than by words. I am about therefore to entrust you with a task of great importance to me, since it is for the most interesting class of my subjects, namely, the most unfortunate. I am about to distribute before the Ramadan, four sacks of rice among poor old men and widows. An unskilful hand has contrived in filling these sacks with the rice, to spill amongst it a quantity

divan to be respectfully conducted by his guards to a large h

their heads than the sacks of rice, set themselves silently to this unexpected work, whilst the

ers of the divan were busily engaged sifting the rice for the poor, all th

by Hadgi-Achmet, who perceiving that one of them had made

nor knows what he can do; I will therefore aid thee in thy task," and he began

ly closed. Hadgi-Achmet thanked his enemies, and caused them to b

ld fain have laughed at Hadgi-Achmet, and it is he who has mocked us. Let us henceforth abstain from cr

s old slippers, held the reins of power with a strong hand, and whilst other deys in those times almost always