Tale of the Singer and the Druggist.

There was once in the city of Hamadan[FN#316] a young man of seemly semblance and skilled in singing to the lute; wherefore he was well seen of the citizens.  He went forth one day of his home with intent to travel, and gave not over journeying till his travel brought him to a town and a goodly.  Now he had with him a lute and its appurtenance,[FN#317] so he entered and went round about the streets till he happened upon a druggist who, when he espied him, called to him.  So he went up to him and bade him sit down; accordingly, the youth sat down by his side, and the druggist questioned him of his case.  The singer told him what was in his mind, and the pharmacist took him up into his shop and bought him food and fed him.  Then said he to him, “Rise and take up thy lute and beg about the streets, and whenas thou smellest the reek of wine, break in upon the drinkers and say to them, I am a singer.  They will laugh and cry, Come in to us.  And when thou singest, the folk will know thee and speak one to other of thee; so shalt thou become known about town, and thou shalt better thy business.”  He went round about, as the druggist bade him, till the sun waxed hot, but found none drinking.  Then he entered a lane, that he might take rest, and seeing there a handsome house and a lofty, stood in its shade and fell to observing the excellence of its edification.  Now while he was thus engaged, behold, a casement opened and there appeared thereat a face, as it were the moon.  Quoth the owner of the face, “What aileth thee to stand there?  Dost thou want aught?” And quoth he, “I am a stranger,” and acquainted her with his adventure; whereupon asked she, “What sayst thou to meat and drink and the enjoyment of a fair face and getting thee spending-money?” And he answered, “O mistress mine, this is my desire whereof I am going about in quest!” So she opened the door to him and brought him in:  then she seated him at the upper end of the room and served him with food.  He ate and drank and lay with her and futtered her.  This ended, she sat down in his lap and they toyed and laughed and exchanged kisses till the day was half done, when her husband came home and she had no recourse but to hide the singer in a mat,[FN#318] in which she rolled him up.  The husband entered and seeing the battle-place[FN#319] disordered and smelling the reek of liquor questioned her of this.  Quoth she, “I had with me a bosom friend of mine and I conjured her to crack a cup with me; and so we drank a jar full, I and she, and but now, before thy coming in, she fared forth.”  Her husband deemed her words true and went away to his shop, he being none other than the singer’s friend the druggist, who had invited him and fed him; whereupon the lover came forth and he and the lady returned to their pleasant pastime and abode on this wise till evening, when she gave him money and said to him, “To-morrow in the forenoon come hither to me.”  He replied, “Yes,”