[FN#269] For this name of the capital of Eastern Arabia see vols. i. 33, vii. 24.

[FN#270] “To be” is the Anglo-Oriental form of “Thaub” = in Arabia a loose robe like a nightgown.  See ii. 206.

[FN#271] The good old Mosaic theory of retribution confined to this life, and the belief that Fate is the fruit of man’s action.

[FN#272] Arab.  “Sandarusah” = red juniper gum (Thuja articulata of Barbary), red arsenic realgar, from the Pers.  Sandar = amber.

[FN#273] MSS. pp. 718-724.  This fable, whose moral is that the biter is often bit, seems unknown to AEsop and the compilation which bore his name during the so-called Dark Ages.  It first occurs in the old French metrical Roman de Renart entitled, Si comme Renart prist Chanticler le Coq (ea.  Meon, tom. i. 49).  It is then found in the collection of fables by Marie, a French poetess whose Lais are still extant; and she declares to have rendered it de l’Anglois en Roman; the original being an Anglo-Saxon version of AEsop by a King whose name is variously written Li reis Alured (Alfred ?), or Aunert (Albert ?), or Henris, or Mires.  Although Alfred left no version of AEsop there is in Ms. a Latin AEsop containing the same story of an English version by Rex Angliae Affrus.  Marie’s fable is printed in extenso in the Chaucer of Dr. Morris (i. 247); London, Bell and Sons, 1880; and sundry lines remind us of the Arabic, e.g.:—­

          Li gupil volt parler en haut,
          Et li cocs de sa buche saut,
          Sur un haut fust s’est muntez.

And it ends with the excellent moral:—­

          Ceo funt li fol tut le plusur,
          Parolent quant deivent taiser,
          Teisent quant il deivent parler.

Lastly the Gentil Cok hight Chanticlere and the Fox, Dan Russel, a more accidented tale, appears in “The Nonne Preestes Tale,” by the Grand Traducteur.

[FN#274] “Dura” in Ms. (p. 718) for “Zura,” the classical term, or for “Zurrah,” pop. pronounced “Durrah"=the Holcus Sativus before noticed, an African as well as Asiatic growth, now being supplanted by maize and rice.

[FN#275] “Sa’alab” or “Tha’lab”:  vol. iii. 132.

[FN#276] In text “Kikan,” plur. of “Kiik” =des corneilles (Houdas).

[FN#277] “Samman” or “Summan,” classically “Salwa.”

[FN#278] In text “Al-Kawani"=the spears, plur. of “Kanat.” ["Al-Kawani” as plural of a singular “Kanat"=spear would be, I think, without analogy amongst the plural formations, and its translation by “punishment” appears somewhat strained.  I propose to read “al-Ghawani” and to translate “and whoever lags behind of the singing birds will not be safe” ("la yaslimu,” it will not go well with him).  In the mouth of the fox this implies a delicate compliment for the cock, who might feel flattered to be numbered amongst the same tribe with the nightingale and the thrush.—­St.]