It is related the Khalif Haroun er Reshid was restless one night and could not sleep；so that he ceased not to toss from side to side for very restlessnesstillgrowing weary of thishe called Mesrour and said to him'O Mesrourlook what may solace me of this my restlessness.'O Commander of the Faithful，'answered Mesrour'wilt thou walk in the garden of the palace and divert thyself with the sight of its flowers and gaze upon the stars and note the beauty of their ordinance and the moon among themshining on the water？'O Mesrour，'replied the Khalif'my heart inclines not to aught of this.'O my lord，'continued Mesrour'there are in thy palace three hundred concubineseach of whom hath her separate lodging. Do thou bid retire each into her own apartment and then go thou about and divert thyself with gazing on themwithout their knowledge.'O Mesrour，'answered Haroun'the palace is mine and the girls are my property：
moreovermy soul inclineth not to aught of this.'O my lord，'said Mesrour'summon the doctors and sages and poets and bid them contend before thee in argument and recite verses and tell thee tales and anecdotes.'My soul inclines not to aught of this，'answered the Khalif；and Mesrour said'O my lordbid the minions and wits and boon-companions attend thee and divert thee with witty sallies.'O Mesrour，'replied the Khalif'indeed my soul inclineth not to aught of this.'ThenO my lord，'rejoined Mesrour'strike off my head；maybethat will dispel thine unease and do away the restlessness that is upon thee.'
At this the Khalif laughed and said'See which of the boon-companions is at the door.'So Mesrour went out and returning，said'O my lordhe who sits without is Ali ben Mensour of Damascusthe Wag.'Bring him to me，'quoth Haroun；and Mesrour went out and returned with Ibn Mensourwho saidon entering，'Peace be on theeO Commander of the Faithful！'The Khalif returned his salutation and said to him'O Ibn Mensourtell us one of thy stories.'O Commander of the Faithful，'said the other'shall I tell thee what I have seen with my eyes or what I have only heard tell？'If thou have seen aught worth telling，'replied the Khalif'let us hear it；for report is not like eye-witness.'O Commander of the Faithful，'said Ibn Mensour'lend me thine ear and thy heart.'O Ibn Mensour，'answered the Khalif'beholdI am listening to thee with mine ears and looking at thee with mine eyes and attending to thee with my heart.'