Mr. Payne omits the last line. It refers to what Persian boys call, in half-Turkish phrase, “Alish Takish,” each acting woman after he has acted man. The best wine is still made in monasteries and the so-called Sinai convent is world-famous for its “Ráki” distilled from raisins.
_i.e._ what a difference there is between them!
Arab. “Salli ala ‘l-Nabi,” a common phrase; meaning not only praise him to avert the evil eye; but also used when one would impose silence upon a babbler. The latter will shuffle off by ejaculating “Al” and continue his chatter (Pilgrimage ii. 279).
Arab. “Sukát” (plur. of Sáki, cupbearer, our old “skinker”): the pure gold (tibr) is the amber-coloured wine, like the Vino d’oro of the Libanus.
That is, fair, white and red: Turkish slaves then abounded at Baghdad.
A Wady near Meccah where one of Mohammed’s battles was fought. The line means his waist is a thread connected broad breast and large hind quarters.
Arab. “Zaurá” which may mean crooked, alluding to the well-known rib.
A pun. Bakr was the name of the eponymous chief and it also means virgin, as in Abu Bakr.
Arab. “Jámi’ayn” = two cathedrals, any large (and consequently vicious) city.
Arab. “Almá,” before noticed: I cannot translate “damask-lipped” to suit European taste.
Sherbet flavoured with musk or apple to cool the mouth of “hot coppers.”
Arab. “In’ásh” lit. raising from his bier. The whole tone is rollicking and slangy.
_i.e._ In spite of himself: the phrase often occurs.
ABDALLAH BIN MA’AMAR WITH THE MAN OF BASSORAH AND HIS SLAVE-GIRL.
A certain man of Bassorah once bought a slave-girl and reared and educated her right well. Moreover, he loved her very dearly and spent all his substance in pleasuring and merry-making with her, till he had naught left and extreme poverty was sore upon him. So she said to him, “O my master, sell me; for thou needest my price and it maketh my heart ache to see thy sorry and want-full plight. If thou vend me and make use of my value, ‘twill be better for thee than keeping me by thee, and haply Almighty Allah will ample thee and amend thy fortune.” He agreed to this for the straitness of his case, and carried her to the bazar, where the broker offered her for sale to the Governor of Bassorah, by name Abdallah bin Ma’amar al-Taymi, and she pleased him. So he bought her, for five hundred dinars and paid the sum to her master; but when he took the money and was about to go away, the girl burst into tears and repeated these two couplets:—