granted him permission for this and turning to Ja'afar, said to
him, "As my head liveth, the house and that which is therein is
Khalif's; for that he is ruler over it and I am in admiration at
him, whence there came to him this passing prosperity and
exceeding felicity! However, this is no great matter to Him who
saith to a thing, 'Be!' and it becometh; what I most wonder at is
his understanding, how it hath increased, and whence he hath
gotten this loftiness and this lordliness; but, when Allah
willeth weal unto a man, He amendeth his intelligence before
bringing him to worldly affluence." As they were talking, behold,
up came Khalif, followed by cup-bearer lads like moons, belted
with zones of gold, who spread a cloth of siglaton[FN#301] and
set thereon flagons of chinaware and tall flasks of glass and
cups of crystal and bottles and hanaps[FN#302] of all colours;
and those flagons they filled with pure clear and old wine, whose
scent was as the fragrance of virgin musk and it was even as
saith the poet,

"Ply me and also my mate be plied * With pure wine prest in the
olden tide.[FN#303]
Daughter of nobles[FN#304] they lead her forth[FN#305] * In
raiment of goblets beautified.
They belt her round with the brightest gems, * And pearls and
unions, the Ocean's pride;
So I by these signs and signets know * Wherefore the Wine is
entitled 'Bride.'[FN#306]"

And round about these vessels were confections and flowers, such
as may not be surpassed. When Al-Rashid saw this from Khalif, he
inclined to him and smiled upon him and invested him with an