The Khalif El Mamoun once said to [his uncle] Ibrahim ben el Mehdi'Tell us the most remarkable thing that thou hast ever seen.'I hear and obeyO Commander of the Faithful，' answered he. 'Know that I went out one daya-pleasuringand my course brought me to a place where I smelt the odour of food. My soul longed for it and I haltedperplexed and unable either to go on or enter. PresentlyI raised my eyes and saw a lattice window and behind it a hand and wristthe like of which for beauty I never saw. The sight turned my brain and I forgot the smell of the food and began to cast about how I should get access to the house. After awhileI espied a tailor hard by and going up to himsaluted him. He returned my greeting and I said to him'Whose house is that？'It belongs to a merchant called such an one，' answered he'who consorteth with none but merchants.'
As we were talkingup came two men of comely and intelligent aspectriding on horseback；and the tailor told me their names and that they were the merchant's most intimate friends. So I spurred my horse towards them and said to them'May I be your ransom！ Abou such an one waits for you！' And I rode with them to the gatewhere I entered and they also. When the master of the house saw mehe doubted not but I was their friend；so he welcomed me and made me sit down in the highest room. Then they brought the table of food and I said'God hath granted me my desire of the food；and now there remain the hand and wrist.' After awhilewe removedfor carousalto another roomwhich I found full of all manner of rarities；and the host paid me particular attentionaddressing his conversation to mefor that he deemed me a guest of his guests；whilst the latterin like mannermade much of metaking me for a friend of the master of the house.