“The second day after this, they said to me, ’O brother, we require the apartment in which you live; do you hire another place for your residence, and go and stay there.’  ’Twas then I perceived that they were not pleased that I should even remain in my father’s house; I had no remedy, and determined to leave it.  O protector of the world! when my father was alive, whenever he returned from his travels, he used to bring the rarities of different countries, and give them to me by way of presents; for this reason, that every one loves most the youngest child.  I from time to time sold these [presents], and raised a small capital of my own; with this [sum] I carried on some traffic.  Once, my father brought for me a female slave from Tartary, and he once brought thence some horses, from which he gave me also a promising young colt; and I used to feed it from my own little property.

“At last, seeing the inhumanity of my brothers, I bought a house, and went and resided there; this dog also went along with me.  I purchased the requisite articles for housekeeping, and bought two slaves for attendance; with the remainder of my capital I opened a shop as a cloth merchant, and placing my confidence in God, I sat down quietly [in it], and felt contented with my fate.  Though my brothers had behaved unkindly to me, yet, since God was gracious, my shop in three years’ time increased so greatly, that I became a man of credit.  Whatever rarities [in the way of clothes or dresses] were required in every great family, went from my shop only.  I thereby earned large sums of money, and began to live in affluent circumstances.  Every hour I offered up my prayers to the pure God, and lived at my ease; and often used to repeat these verses on my [prosperous] circumstances:—­

    ’Why should not the prince be displeased? 
    I have nothing to do with him. 
    Except thyself, O, mighty Prince, [287]
    What other [sovereign] can I praise? 
    Why should not my brother be displeased? 
    Nothing can he do [to harm me];
    Thou alone art my help;
    Then to whom else should I go? 
    Why should not the friend or foe be displeas’d,
    During the whole [eight] watches,
    Let me fix my affections on thy feet only. 
    Let the world be wrathful [with me],
    But thou dost far transcend [the world];
    All others may kiss my thumb,
    Only it is my wish that thou be not displeased.’

“It happened, that on a Friday I was sitting at home, when a slave of mine had gone to the bazar for necessaries; after a short time, he returned in tears.  I asked him the reason, and what happened to him.  He replied with anger, ’What business is it to you? do you enjoy yourself; but what answer will you give on the day of judgment?’ I said, O, you Abyssinian, what demon has possessed thee?  He answered, ’This is the calamity, that the arms of your two elder brothers have been tied behind