There was once in Baghdad a man of rank and rich in money and houses and lands，who was one of the chiefs of the merchants，and God had largely endowed him with worldly goodsbut had not vouchsafed him what he longed for of offspring；and there passed over him a long space of timewithout his being blessed with childrenmale or female. His years waxed greathis bones became wasted and his back bentand weakness and trouble increased on him，and he feared the loss of his wealth and possessionsseeing he had no childwhom he might make his heir and by whom he should be remembered. So he betook himself with supplication to God the Most Highfasting by day and rising by night [to pray]. Moreoverhe made vows to God the Livingthe Eternaland visited the pious and was instant in supplication to the Most Mightill He gave ear to him and accepted his prayer and took pity on his striving and complaining；so thatbefore many days were pasthe lay with one of his women and she became with child by him the same night. She accomplished the months of her pregnancy and casting her burdenbore a male child as he were a piece of the moon；whereupon the merchant，in his gratitude to God（to whom belong might and majesty，）
fulfilled his vows and gave alms and clothed the widow and the orphan.
On the seventh night after the boy's birthhe named him Aboulhusnand the wet-nurses suckled him and the dry-nurses dandled him and the slaves and servants carried himtill he grew up and throve and learnt the sublime Koran and the ordinances of Islam and the things of the True Faith. Moreover，he learned writing and poetry and mathematics and archery and became the pearl of his age and the goodliest of the folk of his time and his dayfair of face and fluent of tongue，bearing himself with a proud and graceful port and glorying in his symmetry and amorous grace. His cheeks were red and his forehead white and brilliant and the tender down of the whiskers darkened upon his faceeven as saith onedescribing him：
The Spring of the down on his cheeks to the eye shows clear；And how shall the rose endureafter Spring is here？