Then said he to Aboulhusn, “Praised be God who hath done away from thee that which irked thee and that I see thee in weal!” And Aboulhusn said, “Never again will I take thee to boon-companion or sitting-mate; for the byword saith, ’Whoso stumbleth on a stone and returneth thereto, blame and reproach be upon him.’  And thou, O my brother, nevermore will I entertain thee nor use companionship with thee, for that I have not found thy commerce propitious to me."[FN#32] But the Khalif blandished him and conjured him, redoubling words upon him with “Verily, I am thy guest; reject not the guest,” till Aboulhusn took him and [carrying him home], brought him into the saloon and set food before him and friendly entreated him in speech.  Then he told him all that had befallen him, whilst the Khalif was like to die of hidden laughter; after which Aboulhusn removed the tray of food and bringing the wine-tray, filled a cup and emptied it out three times, then gave it to the Khalif, saying, “O boon-companion mine, I am thy slave and let not that which I am about to say irk thee, and be thou not vexed, neither do thou vex me.”  And he recited these verses: 

No good’s in life (to the counsel list of one who’s
     purpose-whole,) An if thou be not drunken still and gladden
     not thy soul. 
Ay, ne’er will I leave to drink of wine, what while the night on
     me Darkens, till drowsiness bow down my head upon my bowl. 
In wine, as the glittering sunbeams bright, my heart’s
     contentment is, That banishes hence, with various joys, all
     kinds of care and dole.

When the Khalif heard these his verses, he was moved to exceeding delight and taking the cup, drank it off, and they ceased not to drink and carouse till the wine rose to their heads.  Then said Aboulhusn to the Khalif, “O boon-companion mine, of a truth I am perplexed concerning my affair, for meseemed I was Commander of the Faithful and ruled and gave gifts and largesse, and in very deed, O my brother, it was not a dream.”  “These were the delusions of sleep,” answered the Khalif and crumbling a piece of henbane into the cup, said to him, “By my life, do thou drink this cup.”  And Aboulhusn said, “Surely I will drink it from thy hand.”  Then he took the cup from the Khalifs hand and drank it off, and no sooner had it settled in his belly than his head forewent his feet [and he fell down senseless].

Now his parts and fashions pleased the Khalif and the excellence of his composition and his frankness, and he said in himself, “I will assuredly make him my cup- companion and sitting-mate.”  So he rose forthright and saying to Mesrour, “Take him up,” [returned to the palace].  Accordingly, Mesrour took up Aboulhusn and carrying him to the palace of the Khalifate, set him down before Er Reshid, who bade the slaves and slave- girls encompass him about, whilst he himself hid in a place where Aboulhusn could not see him.