so far refrain as not to enter upon your rents, or even your estate.  In short, I must own, I envy your situation.  You are the happiest man in the world, to enjoy every day the company of some one with whom you can discourse freely and agreeably, and to whom you give an opportunity to declare, wherever he goes, how handsome he was received by you.  But we talk too long without drinking; come, drink, and pour out a glass for me.”

In this manner the caliph and Abou Hassan conversed together, drinking and talking of indifferent subjects, till the night was pretty far advanced; when the caliph, pretending to be fatigued after his journey, told his host he stood in need of a little rest.  “But,” added he, “as I would not deprive you of yours on my account, before we part (because to-morrow I may be gone before you are stirring), I should be glad to shew you how sensible I am of your civility, and the good cheer and hospitality you have strewn me.  The only thing that troubles me is, that I know not which way to make you any acknowledgment.  I beg of you, therefore, to let me understand how I may do it’ and you shall see I will not be ungrateful; for it is impossible but a man like you must have some business, some want, or wish for something agreeable to you.  Speak freely, and open your mind; for though I am but a merchant, it may be in my power to oblige you myself, or by some friend.”

To these offers of the caliph, Abou Hassan, taking him still for a Moussul merchant, replied, “I am very well persuaded, sir, that it is not out of compliment that you make me these generous tenders; but upon the word of an honest man, I assure you, I have nothing that troubles me, no business, nor desires, and I ask nothing of any body.  I have not the least ambition, as I told you before; and am satisfied with my condition:  therefore, I can only thank you for your obliging proffers, and the honour you have done me in condescending to partake of my frugal fare.  Yet I must tell you,” pursued Abou Hassan, “there is one thing gives me uneasiness, without, however, disturbing my rest.  You must know the town of Bagdad is divided into quarters, in each of which there is a mosque with an imaum to perform service at certain hours, at the head of the quarter which assembles there.  The imaum of the division I live in is a surly curmudgeon, of an austere countenance, and the greatest hypocrite in the world.  Four old men of this neighbourhood, who are people of the same stamp, meet regularly every day at this imaum’s house.  There they vent their slander, calumny, and malice against me and the whole quarter, to the disturbance of the peace of the neighbourhood, and the promotion of dissension.  Some they threaten, others they frighten; and, in short, would be lords paramount, and have every one govern himself according to their caprice, though they know not how to govern themselves.  Indeed, I am sorry to see that they meddle with any thing but their Koraun, and will not let the world live quietly.”