When the caliph saw himself that what the executioner said was true, he looked upon me with astonishment; and, perceiving that I had not the face of a highwayman, said to me, Good old man, how came you to be among those wretches, who have deserved a thousand deaths?  I answered, Commander of the faithful, I shall make a true confession.  This morning I saw those ten persons, whose unhappy fate is a proof of your majesty’s justice, take boat; and I embarked with them, thinking they were men going to an entertainment to celebrate this day, which is the most remarkable in our religion.

The caliph, who could not forbear laughing at my adventure, instead of treating me as a prattling fellow, as the lame young man did, admired my discretion and constant silence.  Commander of the faithful, said I, your majesty need not wonder at my keeping silence on such an occasion, which would have made another apt to speak.  I make a particular profession of holding my peace; and on that account I have acquired the title of Silent.  Thus I am called, to distinguish me from my six brothers.  This is the effect of my philosophy; and, in a word, in this virtue consists my glory and happiness.  I am very glad, said the caliph, smiling, that they gave you a title which you so well deserve, and know how to make such good use of.  But tell me what sort of men your brothers are:  were they like you?  By no means, said I; they were all of them given to prating, one more than another; and as to their persons, there was still a greater difference betwixt them and me.  The first was hump-backed; the second had rotten teeth; the third had but one eye; the fourth was blind; the fifth had his ears cut; and the sixth had hare-lips.  They had such adventures as would inform you of their characters, had I the honour of telling them to your majesty.  Accordingly, the caliph expressing a desire to hear a relation of their stories, I began thus: 

THE STORY OF THE BARBER’S ELDEST BROTHER.

Sir, said I, my eldest brother, whose name was Bacbouc the Hump-back, was a tailor by trade:  when his apprenticeship expired, he hired a shop just opposite a mill; and, having but very little business, could scarcely maintain himself.  The miller, on the contrary, was wealthy, and had a very handsome wife.  One day, as my brother was at work in his shop, he lifted up his head, and saw the miller’s wife looking out of the window, and was charmed with her beauty.  The woman took no notice of him, but shut the window, and came no more to it all that day; while the poor tailor did nothing but lift up his eyes towards the mill all day long.  He pricked his fingers more than once; and his work that day was not very regular.  At night, when he was to shut up his shop, he could scarcely tell how to do it, because he still hoped the miller’s wife would come to the window once more; but at last he was forced to shut it up, and go home to his little