When Er Reshid heard the young mans story and knew the passion and transport and love-longing that afflicted him，he was moved to compassion and wonder and said，Glory be to God who hath appointed to every thing a cause！' Than they craved the young mans leave to depart；which being granted，they took leave of him，the Khalif purposing to do him justice and entreat him with the utmost munificence，and returned to the palace of the Khalifate，where they changed their clothes for others befitting their station and sat down，whilst Mesrour stood before them.
After awhile，the Khalif said to Jaafer，O Vizier，bring me the young man with whom we were last night.'I hear and obey，
answered Jaafer，and going to the youth，saluted him，saying，The Commander of the Faithful calls for thee.So he returned with him to the palace，in great concern by reason of the summons，and going in to the Khalif，kissed the earth before him.
Then said he，Peace be on thee，O Commander of the Faithful and Protector of the people of the Faith！And offered up a prayer for the endurance of his glory and prosperity，for the accomplishment of his desires and the continuance of his bounty and the cessation of evil and punishment，ordering his speech as best he might and ending by repeating the following verses：
Still may thy threshold as a place of adoration[149] Be sought and on mens brows its dust bespeak prostration，That so in every land be made this proclamation，'Thou，thou art Abraham and this his very station.'[150]
The Khalif smiled in his face and returned his salute，looking on him with the eye of favour. Then he bade him draw near and sit down before him and said to him，O Mohammed Ali，I wish thee to tell me what befell thee last night，for it was rare and passing strange.' Pardon，O Commander of the Faithful！'replied the youth. Give me the handkerchief of immunity，that my trouble may be appeased and my heart set at rest.' Quoth the Khalif，Thou art safe from fear and trouble.'So the young man told him his story from first to last，whereby the Khalif knew him to be a lover and severed from his beloved and said to him，Wilt thou that I restore her to thee？This were of the bounty of the Commander of the Faithful，'answered the youth and repeated the following verses：
Kiss thou his finger-tips，for no mere fingers they，But keys to all the goods by God to men assigned；
And praise his deeds no less，for no mere deeds are they，But jewels to adorn the necks of humankind.
Thereupon the Khalif turned to Jaafer and said to him，Bring me thy sister the lady Dunya.' I hear and obey，'answered he and fetched her forthright. When she stood before the Khalif，he said to her，Dost thou know who this is？O Commander of the Faithful，'answered she，how should women have knowledge of men？The Khalif smiled and said，O Dunya，this is thy beloved，Mohammed ben Ali the jeweller. We are acquainted with his case，for we have heard the whole story，from beginning to end，and apprehended its inward and its outward；and it is no more hidden，for all it was kept secret.'O Commander of the Faithful，rejoined she，this was written in the book of destiny. I crave the forgiveness of the Most High God for that which I have done and beseech thee to pardon me of thy favour.' At this the Khalif laughed and summoning the Cadi and the witnesses，renewed the marriage-contract between Dunya and her husband，whereby there betided them the utmost of felicity and those who envied them were mortified. Moreover，he made Mohammed Ali one of his boon-companions，and they abode in joy and cheer and gladness，till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies.
ALI THE PERSIANS STORY OF THE KURD SHARPER
The Khalif Haroun er Reshid，being more than commonly restless one night，sent for his Vizier and said to him，O Jaafer，I am sore wakeful and heavy at heart to-night，and I desire of thee what may cheer my spirit and ease me of my oppression.'
Commander of the Faithful，'answered Jaafer，I have a friend，by name Ali the Persian，who hath store of tales and pleasant stories，such as lighten the heart and do away care.' Fetch him to me，'said the Khalif. I hear and obey，'replied Jaafer and going out from before him，sent for Ali the Persian and said to him，The Commander of the Faithful calls for thee.' I hear and obey，'answered Ali and followed the Vizier into the presence of the Khalif，who bade him be seated and said to him，O Ali，my heart is heavy within me this night and I hear that thou hast great store of tales and anecdotes；so I desire of thee that thou let me hear what will relieve my oppression and gladden my melancholy.' O Commander of the Faithful，'said he，shall I tell thee what I have seen with my eyes or what I have heard with my ears？An thou have seen aught [worth telling]，'replied the Khalif，let me hear that.' Know then，O Commander of the Faithful，'said Ali，that some years ago I left this my native city of Baghdad on a journey，having with me a boy who carried a light wallet. Presently，we came to a certain city，where，as I was buying and selling，a rascally thief of a Kurd fell on me and seized my wallet，saying，'This is my bag，and all that is in it is my property.' Thereupon，'Ho，Muslims all，'cried I，'deliver me from the hand of the vilest of oppressors！' But they all said，'Come，both of you，to the Cadi and submit yourselves to his judgement.' I agreed to this and we both presented ourselves before the Cadi，who said，'What brings you hither and what is your case？'Quoth I，'We are men at difference，who appeal to thee and submit ourselves to thy judgement.'Which of you is the complainant？'asked the Cadi. So the Kurd came forward and said，'God preserve our lord the Cadi！Verily，this bag is my bag and all that is in it is my property. It was lost from me and I found it with this man.'When didst thou lose it？'asked the Cadi.
