sitting with his head bowed earthwards, breast straitened and
mind melancholy, humming the verses of the poet,

"My blamers instant bid that I for her become consoled; * But I,
what can I do, whose heart declines to be controlled?
And how can I in patience bear the loss of lovely maid, * When
fails me patience for a love that holds with firmest hold!
Ne'er I'll forget her nor the bowl that 'twixt us both went round
* And wine of glances maddened me with drunkenness
ensoul'd."

Whenas Ja'afar stood in the presence, he said, "Peace be upon
thee, O Commander of the Faithful, Defender of the honour of the
Faith and descendant of the uncle of the Prince of the Apostles,
Allah assain him and save him and his family one and all!" The
Caliph raised his head and answered, "And on thee be peace and
the mercy of Allah and His blessings!" Quoth Ja'afar; "With
leave of the Prince of True Believers, his servant would speak
without restraint." Asked the Caliph, "And when was restraint
put upon thee in speech and thou the Prince of Wazirs? Say what
thou wilt." Answered Ja'afar, "When I went out, O my lord, from
before thee, intending for my house, I saw standing at the door
thy master and teacher and partner, Khalifah the Fisherman, who
was aggrieved at thee and complained of thee saying, 'Glory be to
God! I taught him to fish and he went away to fetch me a pair of
frails, but never came back: and this is not the way of a good
partner or of a good apprentice.' So, if thou hast a mind to
partnership, well and good; and if not, tell him, that he may
take to partner another." Now when the Caliph heard these words
he smiled and his straitness of breast was done away with and he