صفحة 160 من 1116

When thou hast done with playing and thou feelest the effects of

the medicine, return to thy palace, and make the

Ghusl-ablution[FN#82] in the Hammam bath, and lay thee down to

sleep; so shalt thou become whole; and now peace be with thee!"

Thereupon King Yunan took the bat from the Sage and grasped it

firmly; then, mounting steed, he drove the ball before him and

gallopped after it till he reached it, when he struck it with all

his might, his palm gripping the bat handle the while; and he

ceased not malling the ball till his hand waxed moist and his

skin, perspiring, imbibed the medicine from the wood. Then the

sage Duban knew that the drugs had penetrated his person and bade

him return to the palace and enter the Hammam without stay or

delay; so King Yunan forthright returned and ordered them to

clear for him the bath. They did so, the carpet spreaders making

all haste, and the slaves all hurry and got ready a change of

raiment for the King.