the fourth your majesty did us the honour to make us sit down by you, to hear our songs, and received wine from our hands, until your majesty fell asleep, as Strength of Hearts has told you.  From that time your majesty has continued, contrary to custom, in a sound sleep until now.  Strength of Hearts, all your other slaves, and the officers present, can confirm what I say, and it is now time you should go to prayers.”

“Very well,” replied Abou Hassan, shaking his head, “you would have me believe all this; but I tell you, you are all fools, or mad, and that is great pity, for you are very handsome.  Since I saw you I have been at home, where I used my mother so ill that they sent me to a mad-house, and kept me there three weeks against my will, beat me unmercifully every day, and yet you would make me believe all this to be a dream.”  “Commander of the faithful,” answered Morning Star, “you are mistaken, we are ready to swear by all your majesty holds most dear, that all you relate can be only a dream.  You have never stirred out of this hall since yesterday, but slept here all night.”

The confidence with which the lady assured Abou Hassan that all she said was truth, and that he had never been out of the hall since that time, bewildered his senses so that he was at a loss what to believe.  “O Heaven!” said he to himself, “am I Abou Hassan, or the commander of the faithful!  Almighty God, enlighten my understanding, and inform me of the truth, that I may know what to trust.”  He then uncovered his shoulders, and shewed the ladies the livid weals of the blows he had received.  “Look,” said he, “judge whether these strokes could come to me in a dream, or when I was asleep.  For my part, I can affirm, that they were real blows; I feel the smart of them yet, and that is a testimonial there is no room to doubt.  Now if I received these strokes in my sleep, it is the most extraordinary thing in the world, and surpasses my comprehension.”

In this uncertainty Abou Hassan called to one of the officers that stood near him:  “Come hither,” said he, “and bite the tip of my ear, that I may know whether I am asleep or awake.”  The officer obeyed, and bit so hard, that he made him cry out loudly with the pain; the music struck up at the same time, and the officers and ladies all began to sing, dance, and skip about Abou Hassan, and made such a noise, that he was in a perfect ecstasy, and played a thousand ridiculous pranks.  He threw off his caliph’s habit, and his turban, jumped up in his shirt and drawers, and taking hold of two of the ladies’ hands, began singing, jumping and cutting capers, so that the caliph could not contain himself, but burst into such violent laughter, that he fell backwards, and was heard above the noise of all the musicians.  He was so long before he could check himself, that it had like to have been fatal.  At last he got up, opened the lattice, and putting out his head, cried “Abou Hassan, Abou Hassan, have you a mind to kill me with laughing?”