The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 05 (of 10)

Volume 5 — AL FATH BIN KHAKAN AND THE CALIPH AL-MUTAWAKKIL.

Richard Francis Burton translation

Al-Mutawakkil^[225] was once taking medicine, and folk sent him by way of solace all sorts of presents and rarities and things costly and precious. Amongst others, Al-Fath bin Khákán^[226] sent him a virgin slave, high-breasted, of the fairest among women of her time, and with her a vase of crystal, containing ruddy wine, and a goblet of red gold, whereon were graven in black these couplets:—

153Since our Imam came forth from medicine, ✿ Which made him health and heartiness rewin,

There is no healing draught more sovereign ✿ Than well-boiled wine this golden goblet in:

Then let him break the seal for him secured; ✿ ‘Tis best prescription after medicine.^[227]

Now when the damsel entered, the physician Yohanná^[228] was with the Caliph, and as he read the couplets, he smiled and said, “By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, Fath is better versed than I in the art of healing: so let not the Prince of True Believers gainsay his prescription.” Accordingly, the Caliph followed the recipe contained in the poetry and was made whole by the blessing of Allah and won his every wish. And among tales they tell is one of

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · Ala’llah, tenth Abbaside, A. H. 232–47 (847–61), grandson of Al-Rashid who succeeded Al-Wásik. He was a fanatic Sunni, much opposed to the S Note 2 · Wazir of the above, killed by Al-Muntasir Billah A.H. 247 (= 861).Note 3 · Easterns during purgation are most careful and deride the want of precaution in Europeans. They do not leave the house till all is passed of Note 4 · Johannes, a Greek favoured by Al-Mutawakkil and other Abbaside Caliphs.