THE CALIPH AL-HAKIM[FN#123] AND THE MERCHANT
The Caliph Al-Hákim bi-Amri'llah was riding out in state
procession one day, when he passed along a garden, wherein he saw
a man, surrounded by negro-slaves and eunuchs. He asked him for
a draught of water, and the man gave him to drink, saying,
"Belike, the Commander of the Faithful will honour me by
alighting in this my garden." So the Caliph dismounted and with
his suite entered the garden; whereupon the said man brought out
to them an hundred rugs and an hundred leather mats and an
hundred cushions; and set before them an hundred dishes of
fruits, an hundred bowls of sweetmeats and an hundred jars of
sugared sherbets; at which the Caliph marvelled with much amaze
and said to his host, "O man, verily this thy case is wondrous:
didst thou know of our coming and make this preparation for us?"
He replied, "No by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I knew not
of thy coming and I am a merchant of the rest of thy subjects;
but I have an hundred concubines; so, when the Commander of the
Faithful honoured me by alighting with me, I sent to each of
them, bidding her send me her morning-meal in the garden. So
they sent me each of her furniture and the surplus of her meat
and drink: and every day each sendeth me a dish of meat and
another of cooling marinades, also a platter of fruits and a bowl
of sweetmeats and a jar of sherbet. This is my noon-day dinner,
nor have I added aught thereto for thee." Then the Commander of
the Faithful, Al-Hakim bi-Amri'llah prostrated himself in
thanksgiving to the Almighty (extolled and exalted be His name!)
and said, "Praise be Allah, who hath been so bountiful to one of
our lieges, that he entertaineth the Caliph and his host, without
making ready for them; nay, he feedeth them with the surplusage
of his day's provision!" Then he sent for all the dirhams in the
treasury, that had been struck that year (and they were in number
three thousand and seven hundred thousand); nor did he mount
until the money came, when he gave it to the merchant, saying,
"Use this as thy state may require; and thy generosity deserveth
more than this." Then he took horse and rode away. And I have
heard a story concerning
