This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
SULTAN DARAI.
105

are very tired; from the beginning of sunrising till its setting you have not once rested, till this night;" and he said, "I beg of you lie down." "Do not you grieve, father, a great man is like a dustheap; he makes it greater who carries something; he who bears nothing makes it no greater;" And he said, "True." And they slept.

In the morning, when it was scarcely light, it awoke the gentry. "Gentlefolks, gentlefolks, awake! Fellow-servants, fellow-servants, fellow-servants, awake! Gentlefolks, wash your faces! Fellow-servants of mine, wash your faces."

And it said, "Come, gentlefolks, open your mouths; and fellow-servants, fellow-servants, open your mouths, that we may escape from the sun." And the gentry arose and ate good food, and their souls rejoiced, and so did the slaves. And all the slaves that were there, and even the gentry, loved that gazelle more than they did Sultan Darai.

When they had finished they arose. "Well, gentlefolk, have you had enough?" And they said, "We have had enough;" and they said, "we are gentlefolks, and if we had not eaten this food we should have been satisfied with only the honour you do us and the arrangements you have made." And it said, "Thank you." And it asked, "Well, all my company, have you had enough?" And they said, "Here as we are, even an eyelash would seem to us a heavy thing to put in our bellies, we are so full."

And it said, "Come then, let us start." And they went till the sun had ceased to be overhead, and they stopped. "Let us rest here, and drink water and eat food." So the food came and they ate, gentry and slaves, and they were filled, gentry and slaves, and they were glad, both gentry and slaves.