Pagina 274 de 1116

The Kalandars looked at the room and saw that it was a pleasant

place, clean swept and garnished with flowers; and the lamps were

burning and the smoke of perfumes was spireing in air; and beside

the dessert and fruits and wine, there were three fair girls who

might be maidens; so they exclaimed with one voice, "By Allah,

'tis good!" Then they turned to the Porter and saw that he was a

merry faced wight, albeit he was by no means sober and was sore

after his slappings. So they thought that he was one of

themselves and said, "A mendicant like us! whether Arab or

foreigner."[FN#169] But when the Porter heard these words, he

rose up, and fixing his eyes fiercely upon them, said, "Sit ye

here without exceeding in talk! Have you not read what is writ

over the door?