Pagina 361 di 1116

When they brought me up to the King and set me in his presence, I

kissed the ground before him three times, and once before the

High Chamberlain and great officers, and he bade me be seated,

and I sat respectfully on shins and knees,[FN#238] and all who

were present marvelled at my fine manners, and the King most of

all. Thereupon he ordered the lieges to retire; and, when none

remained save the King's majesty, the Eunuch on duty and a little

white slave, he bade them set before me the table of food,

containing all manner of birds, whatever hoppeth and flieth and

treadeth in nest, such as quail and sand grouse. Then he signed

me to eat with him; so I rose and kissed ground before him, then

sat me down and ate with him. And when the table was removed I

washed my hands in seven waters and took the reed-case and reed;

and wrote instead of speaking these couplets:-