The Khalif Haroun er Reshid was very restless one night；so he said to his Vizier Jaafer'I am sleepless tonight and my heart is oppressed and I know not what to do.' Now his henchman Mesrour was standing before himand he laughed. Quoth the Khalif'Dost thou laugh in derision of me or art thou mad？'
'Neitherby AllahO Commander of the Faithful，' answered Mesrour'by thy kinship to the Prince of ApostlesI did it not of my free-will；but I went out yesterday to walk and coming to the bank of the Tigrissaw there the folk collected about a man named Ibn el Caribiwho was making them laugh；and but now I recalled what he saidand laughter got the better of me；and I crave pardon of theeO Commander of the Faithful！'
'Bring him to me forthright，' said the Khalif. So Mesrour repaired in all haste to Ibn el Caribi and said to him'The Commander of the Faithful calls for thee.'I hear and obey，'answered the droll. 'But on condition，' added Mesrour'that，if he give thee aughtthou shalt have a fourth and the rest shall be mine.'Nay，' replied the other'thou shalt have half and I half.'Not so，' insisted Mesrour；'I will have three-quarters.'Thou shalt have two-thirdsthen，' rejoined Ibn el Caribi；'and I the other third.' To this Mesrour agreedafter much hagglingand they returned to the palace together.
When Ibn el Caribi came into the Khalif's presencehe saluted himas became his rankand stood before him；whereupon said Er Reshid to him'If thou do not make me laughI will give thee three blows with this bag.' Quoth Ibn el Caribi in himself'Three strokes with that bag were a small matter，seeing that beating with whips irketh me not；' for he thought the bag was empty. Then he clapped into a discoursesuch as would make a stone laughand gave vent to all manner of drolleries；but the Khalif laughed not neither smiledwhereat Ibn el Caribi marvelled and was chagrined and affrighted. Then said the Khalif'Now hast thou earned the beating，' and gave him a blow with the bagin which were four pebbleseach two pounds in weight. The blow fell on his neck and he gave a great crythen calling to mind his compact with Mesroursaid，'PardonO Commander of the Faithful！ Hear two words from me.'