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of whom I asked about them and he answered, "O my son, this fruit

is a rarity with us and is not now to be found save in the garden

of the Commander of the Faithful at Bassorah, where the gardener

keepeth it for the Caliph's eating." I returned to my house

troubled by my ill-success; and my love for my wife and my

affection moved me to undertake the journey. So I gat me ready

and set out and travelled fifteen days and nights, going and

coming, and brought her three apples which I bought from the

gardener for three dinars. But when I went in to my wife and set

them before her, she took no pleasure in them and let them lie by

her side; for her weakness and fever had increased on her and her

malady lasted without abating ten days, after which time she

began to recover health.