第95章 ALAEDDIN ABOU ESH SHAMAT.(5)

Needs must I journey to Baghdad with merchandise，answered Alaeddin，else will I put off my clothes and don a dervishs habit and go a-wandering over the world.' Quoth Shemseddin，I am no lackgood，but have great plenty of wealth and with me are stuffs and merchandise befitting every country in the world.' Then he showed him his goods and amongst the rest，forth bales ready packed，with the price，a thousand dinars，written on each，and said to him，Take these forty loads，together with those thy mother gave thee，and set out under the safeguard of God the Most High. But，O my son，I fear for thee a certain wood in thy way，called the Lions Copse，and a valley called the Valley of Dogs，for there lives are lost without mercy.' How so？asked Alaeddin. Because of a Bedouin highwayman，hight Ajlan，'answered his father，who harbours there.' Quoth Alaeddin，Fortune is with God；if any part in it be mine，no harm will befall me.' Then they rode to the cattle market，where a muleteer alighted from his mule and kissing the Provosts hand，said to him，O my lord，by Allah，it is long since thou hast employed me to carry merchandise for thee！'

Every time hath its fortune and its men，'answered Shemseddin；

and may God have mercy on him who said：

An old man went walking the ways of the world，So bowed and so bent that his beard swept his knee.

'What makes thee go doubled this fashion？'quoth I. He answered （and spread out his hands unto me），'My youth hath escaped me；tis lost in the dust，And I bend me to seek it，whereer it may be.'

O captain，[92] added he，it is not I，but this my son that is minded to travel.' God preserve his to thee！' said the muleteer. Then Shemseddin made a contract between Alaeddin and the muleteer，appointing that the former should be to the latter as a son，and gave him into his charge，saying，Take these hundred dinars for thy men.' Moreover，he bought his son threescore mules and a lamp and covering of honour for the tomb of Sheikh Abdulcadir el Jilani[93] and said to him，O my son，I am leaving thee，and this is thy father in my stead： whatsoever he biddeth thee，do thou obey him.' So saying，he returned home with the mules and servants and they made recitations of the Koran and held a festival that night in honour of the Sheikh Abdulcadir. On the morrow，Shemseddin gave his son ten thousand dinars，saying，O my son，when thou comest to Baghdad，if thou find stuffs brisk of sale，sell them；but if they be dull，spend of these dinars.' Then they loaded the mules and taking leave of their friends，set out on their journey.

Now Mehmoud of Balkh had made ready his own venture for Baghdad and set up his tents without the city，saying in himself，I shall not enjoy this youth but in the desert，where there is neither spy not spoil-sport to trouble me.' It chanced that he had in hand a thousand dinars of Shemseddins monies，the balance of a dealing between them；so he went to the Provost and bade him farewell；and he said to him，Give the thousand dinars to my son Alaeddin，'and commended the latter to his care，saying，He is as it were thy son.' Accordingly，Alaeddin joined company with Mehmoud，who charged the youths cook to dress nothing for him，but himself provided him and his company with meat and drink. Now he had four houses，one at Cairo，another at Damascus，a third at Aleppo and a fourth at Baghdad. So they set out and journeyed over deserts and plains，till they drew near Damascus，when Mehmoud sent his servant to Alaeddin，whom he found reading. He went up to him and kissed his hands，and Alaeddin asked him what he sought. My master salutes thee，'answered the slave，and craves thy company to a banquet in his house.' Quoth the youth，I must consult my father Kemaleddin，the captain of the caravan.' So he consulted the muleteer，who said，Do not go.'

Then they left Damascus and journeyed on till they came to Aleppo，where Mehmoud made a second entertainment and sent to bid Alaeddin；but the muleteer again forbade him. Then they departed Aleppo and fared on，till they came within a days journey of Baghdad. Here Mehmoud repeated his invitation a third time and Kemaleddin once more forbade Alaeddin to accept it；but the latter said，I must needs go.' So he rose and girding on a sword under his clothes，repaired to the tent of Mehmoud of Balkh，who came to meet him and saluted him. Then he set a sumptuous repast before him，and they ate and drank and washed their hands.

Presently，Mehmoud bent towards Alaeddin，to kiss him，but the youth received the kiss on his hand and said to him，What wilt thou do？Quoth Mehmoud，I brought thee hither that I might do delight with thee in this jousting-ground，and we will comment the words of him who saith：

Cant be thou wilt with us a momentling alight，Like to an ewekins milk or what not else of white，And cat what liketh thee of dainty wastel-bread And take what thou mayst get of silver small and bright And bear off what thou wilt，sans grudging or constraint，Spanling or full-told span or fistling filled outright？

Then he would have laid hands on Alaeddin；but he rose and drawing his sword，said to him，Shame on thy gray hairs！Hast thou no fear of God，and He of exceeding great might？[94] May He have mercy on him who saith：

Look thou thy hoariness preserve from aught that may it stain，For whiteness still to take attaint is passing quick and fain.