that the chamberlain had been deceived by the likeness of the name; and Abd al-Malik also perceived how the matter stood and perplexity was manifest to him in Ja’afar’s face.  So he put on a cheery countenance and said, “No harm be upon you![FN#263] Bring us of these dyed clothes.”  Thereupon they brought him a dyed robe[FN#264] and he donned it and sat discoursing gaily with Ja’afar and jesting with him.  Then said he, “Allow us to be a partaker in your pleasures, and give us to drink of your Nabiz."[FN#265] So they brought him a silken robe and poured him out a pint, when he said, “We crave your indulgence, for we have no wont of this.”  Accordingly Ja’afar ordered a flagon of Nabiz be set before him, that he might drink whatso he pleased.  Then, having anointed himself with perfumes, he chatted and jested with them till Ja’afar’s bosom broadened and his constraint ceased from him and his shame, and he rejoiced in this with joy exceeding and asked Abd al-Malik, “What is thine errand?  Inform me thereof, for I cannot sufficiently acknowledge they courtesy.”  Answered the other, “I come (amend thee Allah!) on three requirements, of which I would have thee bespeak the Caliph; to wit, firstly, I have on me a debt to the amount of a thousand thousand dirhams,[FN#266] which I would have paid:  secondly, I desire for my son the office of Wali or governor of a province,[FN#267] whereby his rank may be raised:  and thirdly, I would fain have thee marry him to Al-’Aliyah, the daughter of the Commander of the Faithful, for that she is his cousin and he is a match for her.”  Ja’afar said, “Allah accomplisheth unto thee these three occasions.  As for the money, it shall be carried to thy house this very hour:  as for the government, I make thy son Viceroy of Egypt; and as for the marriage, I give him to mate Such-an-one, the daughter of our lord the Prince of True Believers, at a dowry of such and such a sum.  So depart in the assurance of Allah Almighty.”  Accordingly Abd al-Malik went away much astonished at Ja’afar’s boldness in undertaking such engagements.  He fared straight for his house, whither he found that the money had preceded him, and in the morrow Ja’afar presented himself before Al-Rashid and acquainted him with what had passed, and that he had appointed Abd al-Malik’s son Wali of Egypt[FN#268] and had promised him his daughter, Al-’Aliyah to wife.  The Caliph was pleased to approve of this and he confirmed the appointment and the marriage.  Then he sent for the young man and he went not forth of the palace of the Caliphate till Al-Rashid wrote him the patent of investiture with the government of Egypt; and he let bring the Kazis and the witnesses and drew up the contract of marriage.

Al-Rashid and the Barmecides[FN#269]