[FN#279] In text “ya zayn” =Oh, the beautiful beast!

[FN#280] In text “Abu Sahih"=(flight to) a sure and safe place.

[FN#281] Ms. pp. 725-739.

[FN#282] Arab.  “Zabit,” from “Zabt"=keeping in subjection, holding tight, tying.  Hence “Zabtiyah” = a constable and “Zabit” = a Prefect of Police.  See vol. i. 259.  The rhyming words are “Rabit” and “Habit.”

[FN#283] In text “Rahib” = monk or lion.

[FN#284] The lines are wholly corrupt.

[FN#285] The “Bahalul” of D’Herbelot.  This worthy was a half-witted Sage (like the Iourodivi of Russia and the Irish Omadhaun), who occupies his own place in contemporary histories flourished under Harun al-Rashid and still is famous in Persian Story.  When the Caliph married him perforce and all the ceremonies were duly performed and he was bedded with the bride, he applied his ear to her privities and forthwith ran away with the utmost speed and alarm.  They brought him back and questioned him concerning his conduct when he made answer, " If you had only heard what it said to me you would have done likewise.”  In the text his conduct is selfish and ignoble as that of Honorius

          “Who strove to merit heaven by making earth a hell.”

And he shows himself heartless and unhuman as the wretched St. Alexius of the Gesta Romanorum (Tale xv.), a warning of the intense selfishness solemnly and logically inculcated by Christianity.  See vol. v. 150.

[FN#286] Koran, ch. li. v. 17.

[FN#287] Koran xx. 57:  it is the famous “Ta-Ha” whose first 14-16 verses are said to have converted the hard-headed Omar.  In the text the citation is garbled and imperfect.

[FN#288] In text “Mas’h.”

[FN#289] “Hisaban tawil” = a long punishment.

[FN#290] The rod of Moses (see pp. 76-77) is the great prototype in Al-Islam of the staff or walking stick, hence it became a common symbol of dignity and it also served to administer ready chastisement, e.g. in the hands of austere Caliph Omar.

[FN#291] An onomatopy like “Couic, Couic.”  For “Maksah,” read “Fa-saha” = and cried out.

[FN#292] “Zindik” = Atheist, Agnostic:  see vols. v. 230; viii. 27.

[FN#293] “Harisah” = meat-pudding.  In Al-Hariri (Ass. xix.) where he enumerates the several kinds of dishes with their metonomies it is called the “Mother of Strengthening” (or Restoration) because it contains wheat—­“the Strengthener” (as opposed to barley and holcus).  So the “Mother of Hospitality” is the Sikbaj, the Persian Sikba, so entitled because it is the principal dish set before guests and was held to be royal food. (Chenery pp. 218, 457.) For the latter see infra.

[FN#294] This passage in the Ms. (p. 733) is apparently corrupt.  I have done my best to make sense of it.

[FN#295] In text " Kamburisiyah.”

[FN#296] In the Dicts. a plant with acid flavour, dried, pounded and peppered over meat.