第96章 STORY OF THE HUNCHBACK(18)

So comeshave me at once and give me no more talk.'By Allah，'rejoined he'if thou knewest what is about to befall theethou wouldst do nothing this day；and I counsel thee to do as I shall tell theeby observation of the stars.'By Allah，'said I'I never saw a barber skilled in astrology except thee： but I think and know that thou art prodigal of idle talk. I sent for thee to shave my headand thou plaguest me with this sorry prate！'What more wouldst thou have！'replied he. 'God hath vouchsafed thee a barberwho is an astrologerversed in the arts of alchemy and white magicsyntaxgrammar and lexicologyrhetoric and logic，arithmeticastronomy and geometryas well as in the knowledge of the Law and the Traditions of the Prophet and in exegesis.

MoreoverI have read many books and digested them and have had experience of affairs and understand them thoroughly. In shortI have examined into all things and studied all arts and crafts and sciences and mastered them；and thy father loved me because of my lack of officiousnessfor which reason my service is obligatory on thee. I am no meddleras thou pretendestand on this account I am known as the Silentthe Grave One. Wherefore it behoves thee to give thanks to God and not cross me for I am a true counsellor to thee and take an affectionate interest in thee. I would I were in thy service a whole yearthat thou mightst do me justice： and I would ask no hire of thee for this.'When I heard thisI said'Thou wilt certainly be the death of me this day！'

'O my lord，'replied he'I am he whom the folk call the Silent，by reason of my few wordsto distinguish me from my six brothersthe eldest of whom was called Becbacthe second Heddarthe third Fekicthe fourth El Kouz el Aswanithe fifth El Fesharthe sixth Shecashic and the seventh （myself） Samit .'Whilst he thus overwhelmed me with his talkI thought my gall-bladder would burst so I said to the servant'Give him a quarter-dinar and let him gofor God's sake！I won't have my head shaved to-day.'What words are theseO my lord？'said he. 'By AllahI will take no hire of thee till I have served thee；and needs must I serve theefor indeed it is incumbent on me to do so and fulfil thy need；and I care not if I take no money of thee. If thou knowest not my worthI know thine；and I owe thy father（may God the Most High have mercy on him！） many a kindnessfor he was a generous man. By Allahhe sent for me one day as it were this blessed dayand I went in to him and found a company of his friends with him. He would have had me let him blood；but I pulled out my astrolabe and taking an altitude for himfound the aspect inauspicious and the hour unfavourable for the letting of blood. I told him of this and he conformed to my advice and put off the operation to a more convenient season. So I recited the following verses in his honour：

I came one day unto my lordthat I might let him bloodBut found that for his body's health the season was not good；

So sat me down and talked with him of many a pleasant thing And all the treasures of my mind before him freely strewed.

Well pleasedhe listenedthen'O mine of knowledge！'he did say'Thy wit and wisdom overpass the bounds of likelihood！'

'Not so，'quoth I；'my wit indeed were littlebut for theeO prince of menthat pour'st on me thy wisdom like a flood！

Thou seem'st indeed the lord of gracebounty and excellence，World's treasure-house of knowledgewitsense and mansuetude！'

Thy father was charmed and cried out to the servantsaying，'Give him a hundred and three dinars and a dress of honour.'The servant did as he badeand I waited till a favourable moment，when I let him blood；and he did not cross mebut thanked me，and all present also praised me. When the cupping was overI could not help saying to him'By AllahO my lordwhat made thee say to the servant'Give him a hundred and three dinars'？

Quoth he'One dinar was for the astrological observation，another for thine entertaining conversethe third for the bloodletting and the remaining hundred and the dress for thy verses in my honour.''May God show no mercy to my father，'

exclaimed I'for knowing the like of thee？'He laughed and said，'There is no god but God and Mohammed is His Apostle！Glory be to Him who changes but is not changed！I took thee for a man of sense；but I see thou dotest for illness. God saysin His precious Bookthat Paradise is prepared for 'those who restrain their wrath and forgive men'and in any case thou art excused.

But I am ignorant of the cause of thy hasteand thou must know that thy father and grandfather did nothing without consulting mefor indeed it is said that he with whom one takes counsel should be trustworthy and that he who takes counsel shall not be disappointed. It is said also that he who hath not an elder （to advise him） will never be an elder himself；and indeed the poet says：

Ere thou decide to venture thyself in aughtConsult an experienced man and cross him not.

And indeed thou wilt find none better versed in affairs than I，and I am here standing on my feet to serve thee. I am not vexed with thee： why shouldst thou be vexed with me？ But I will bear with thee for the sake of the favours I owe thy father.'By Allah，'exclaimed I'O thou whose tongue is as long as a jackass's tailthou persistest in pestering me with talk and pelting me with wordswhen all I want of thee is to shave my head and take thyself off！'Then he lathered my headsaying'I know that thou art vexed with mebut I bear thee no malice；for thy wit is weak and thou art a boy： it was but yesterday I took thee on my shoulders and carried thee to the school'O my brother，'cried I'for God's sakedo what I want and go thy way！'And I rent my clothes. When he saw me do thishe took the razor and fell to sharpening it and stinted nottill I was well-nigh distraught. Then he came up to me and shaved a part of my headthen held his hand and said'O my lordhurry is of the Devil and deliberation of the Merciful One. Methinks thou knowest not my station；verily my hand falls on the heads of kings and amirs and viziers and sages and learned men： and it was of me the poet said：