lute; and the Caliph took not of it and knew it for that of Abu
Ishak the Cup-companion.[FN#55] "By Allah," said the Caliph, "if
this damsel sing ill I will crucify all of you; but if she sing
well I will forgive them and only gibbet thee." "O Allah cause
her to sing vilely!" quoth Ja'afar. Asked the Caliph, "Why so?";
and he answered, "If thou crucify us all together, we shall keep
one another company." The Caliph laughed at his speech.
Presently the damsel took the lute and, after looking at it and
tuning it, she played a measure which made all hearts yearn to
her; then she sang these lines,

"O ye that can aid me, a wretched lover, * Whom longing burns nor
can rest restore me!
Though all you have done I have well deserved, * I take refuge
with you, so exult not o'er me:
True, I am weak and low and vile, * But I'll bear your will and
whatso you bore me:
My death at your hands what brings it of glory? * I fear but your
sin which of life forlore me!"

Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, good! O Ja'afar, never in my life
have I heard a voice so enchanting as this." "Then haply the
Caliph's wrath hath passed away," said Ja'afar, and he replied,
"Yes, 'tis gone." Thereupon they descended from the tree, and
the Caliph said to Ja'afar, "I wish to go in and sit with them
and hear the damsel sing before me." "O Commander of the
Faithful," replied Ja'afar, "if thou go in to them they will be
terribly troubled, and Shaykh Ibrahim will assuredly die of
fright." But the Caliph answered, "O Ja'afar, thou must teach me
some device wherewith to delude them and whereby I can foregather