THE HISTORY OF ABU NIYYAH AND ABU NIYYATAYN394

THE HISTORY OF ABU NIYYAH AND ABU NIYYATAYN394

It is recounted that in Mosel was a king and he was Lord of moneys and means and troops and guards. Now in the beginning of his career his adventures were strange for that he was not of royal rank or race, nor was he of the sons of Kings but prosperity met him because of the honesty of his manners and morals. His name was Abu Niyyah, the single-minded?and he was so poor that he had naught of worldly weal, so quoth he to himself, "Remove thee from this town and haply Allah will widen thy means of livelihood inasmuch as the byword saith, Travel, for indeed much of the joys of life are in travelling.'" So he fixed his mind upon removal from the town; and, having very few articles of his own, he sold them for a single dinar which he took and fared forth from his place of birth seeking another stead. Now when journeying he sighted following him a man who was also on the move and he made acquaintance with him and the two fell to communing together upon the road. Each of the twain wished to know the name of his comrade and Abu Niyyah asked his fellow, saying, "O my brother, what may be thy name?" whereto the other answered, "I am called Abu Niyyatayn?the two-minded." "And I am Abu Niyyah!" cried the other, and his fellow-traveller questioned him, saying, "Hast thou with thee aught of money?" Whereto he replied, "I have with me a single Ashrafi and no more." Quoth the other, "But I have ten gold pieces, so do thou have a care of them and the same will be eleven." Abu Niyyah accepted the charge and they went upon the road together and as often as they entered a town they nighted therein for a single night or two and in the morning they departed therefrom. This continued for a while of time until they made a city which had two gates and Abu Niyyah forewent his fellow through one of the entrances and suddenly heard an asker which was a slave begging and saying, "O ye beneficent, O doers of good deeds, an alms shall bring ten-fold." And, as the chattel drew near395 and Abu Niyyah noted his words, his heart was softened and he gave him his single Ashrafi; whereupon his comrade looked upon him and asked, "What hast thou doled to him?" Answered he, "An Ashrafi;" and quoth the other, "Thou hast but a single gold piece while I have ten;" so he took the joint stock from him and left him and went his way.?And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I should relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?" Now when it was the next night and that was