In the reign of the caliph Haroun Alraschid, there was at Bagdad a druggist, called Aboulhassen Ebn Thaher, a very rich and handsome man.  He had more wit and politeness than those of his profession generally have.  His integrity, sincerity, and jovial humour, made him to be loved and sought after by all sorts of people.  The caliph, who knew his merit, had entire confidence in him; and so great was his esteem for him, that he entrusted him with the care of providing the ladies his favourites with all things they stood in need of.  He chose for them their clothes, furniture, and jewels, with admirable judgment.

His good qualities, with the favour of the caliph, made the sons of emirs, officers, and others of the first rank, to be always about him.  His house was the rendezvous of all the nobility of the court.  But, among the young lords who daily visited him, there was one of whom he took more notice, and with whom he contracted a particular friendship, called Aboulhassen Ali Ebn Becar, originally of an ancient royal family of Persia.  This family had continued at Bagdad ever since the Mussul-men made a conquest of that kingdom.  Nature seemed to have taken pleasure to endow this young prince with many of the rarest qualities both of body and mind.  His face was so very beautiful, his shape so fine, and his physiognomy so prepossessing; that none could see him without loving him immediately.  When he spoke, he expressed himself always in terms the most proper and well chosen, with a new and agreeable turn, and his voice charmed all who heard him.  He had withal so much wit and judgment, that he thought and spoke on every subject with admirable exactness.  He was so reserved and modest, that he advanced nothing till he had taken all possible precautions to avoid giving any ground of suspicion that he preferred his own opinion to that of others.

Being such a person as I have represented him, we need not wonder that Ebn Thaher distinguished him from all the other young noblemen of the court, most of whom had vices contrary to his virtues.  One day, when the prince was with Ebn Thaher, there came a lady mounted on a piebald mule, surrounded by six women-slaves, who accompanied her on foot, all very handsome, as far as could be judged by their air, and through the veils which covered their faces.  The lady had a girdle of a rose colour, four inches broad, embroidered with pearls and diamonds of an extraordinary bigness; and it was easy to perceive that she surpassed all her women in beauty as much as the full moon does that of two days old.  She came to buy something; and when she had spoken to Ebn Thaher, entered his shop, which was very neat and large, and receiving her with all the marks of the most profound respect, entreated her to sit down, and showed her the most honourable place.