VOLUME the FIRST
by Unknown · from Tales from the Arabic — Complete
Adapted Version
Once there was a man. He was very, very hungry. His stomach rumbled loudly. He had no food to eat. He had no money to buy food. The man felt sad. He wanted some food.
The Hungry Man walked down the street. He saw a cook's shop. Warm air came from the shop. He smelled delicious food. The smell was rich and savory. It smelled so good. His mouth watered.
The Hungry Man stopped. He stood very still. He closed his eyes. He took a deep breath. The wonderful smell filled his nose. It made his empty stomach feel warm. It made him happy. He felt a little better. He smiled a small smile.
The Cook saw the man. He watched him for a moment. Then he came out of his shop. He stood with his hands on his hips. "You must pay me!" the Cook said loudly. "You smell my food." The Cook looked angry.
The Hungry Man opened his eyes. He was surprised. He looked at the Cook. "But I did not eat," he said. "I only smelled the food." He spoke softly. He did not want trouble.
The Cook shook his head. "Smell is part of my food," he said. "You enjoyed it. You took my food's smell. So you must pay me now." He waited. He held out his hand.
The Hungry Man had a clever idea. A smile touched his lips. He reached into his pocket. He took out his empty purse. It was made of old cloth. He shook the purse. It made a small sound.
"Listen!" the Hungry Man said. He shook the purse again. The sound was clear. "My coins' sound is payment." He watched Cook. "It pays for your food's smell."
The Cook was surprised. He stopped being angry. He thought about it. He listened to the sound. He smiled then. "Yes," he said. "That is fair." Cook understood the clever man.
The Hungry Man left the shop. He felt happy and clever. He did not pay money. He paid with a sound. The Hungry Man was very clever. The Cook was fair. It is good to be clever and fair.
Original Story
VOLUME THE FIRST.
Delhi Edition
Contents of The First Volume.
Breslau Text.
1. Asleep and Awake
a. Story of the Lackpenny and the Cook
2. The Khalif Omar Ben Abdulaziz and the Poets
3. El Hejjaj and the Three Young Men
4. Haroun Er Reshid and the Woman of the Barmecides
5. The Ten Viziers; or the History of King Azadbekht and His
Son
a. Of the Uselessness of Endeavour Against Persistent Ill
Fortune
i. Story of the Unlucky Merchant
b. Of Looking to the Issues of Affairs
i. Story of the Merchant and His Sons
c. Of the Advantages of Patience
i. Story of Abou Sabir
d. Of the Ill Effects of Precipitation
i. Story of Prince Bihzad
e. Of the Issues of Good and Evil Actions
i. Story of King Dadbin and His Viziers
f. Of Trust in God
i. Story of King Bexhtzeman
g. Of Clemency
i. Story of King Bihkerd
h. Of Envy and Malice
i. Story of Ilan Shah and Abou Temam
i. Of Destiny or That Which Is Written on the Forehead
i. Story of King Abraham and His Son
j. Of the Appointed Term, Which, If it Be Advanced, May
Not Be Deferred and If it Be Deferred, May Not Be
Advanced
i. Story of King Suleiman Shah and His Sons
k. Of the Speedy Relief of God
i. Story of the Prisoner and How God Gave Him Relief
6. Jaafer Ben Yehya and Abdulmelik Ben Salih the Abbaside
7. Er Reshid and the Barmecides
8. Ibn Es Semmak and Er Reshid
9. El Mamoun and Zubeideh
10. En Numan and the Arab of the Benou Tai
11. Firouz and His Wife
12. King Shah Bekht and His Vizier Er Rehwan
a. Story of the Man of Khorassan, His Son and His Governor
b. Story of the Singer and the Druggist
c. Story of the King Who Knew the Quintessence of Things
d. Story of the Rich Man Who Gave His Fair Daughter in
Marriage to the Poor Old Man
e. Story of the Rich Man and His Wasteful Son
f. The King's Son Who Fell in Love with the Picture
g. Story of the Fuller and His Wife
h. Story of the Old Woman, the Merchant and the King
i. Story of the Credulous Husband
j. Story of the Unjust King and the Tither
i. Story of David and Solomon
k. Story of the Thief and the Woman
l. Story of the Three Men and Our Lord Jesus
i. The Disciple's Story
m. Story of the Dethroned King Whose Kingdom and Good Were
Restorfd to Him
n. Story of the Man Whose Caution Was the Cause of His
Death
o. Story of the Man Who Was Lavish of His House and His
Victual to One Whom He Knew Not
p. Story of the Idiot and the Sharper
q. Story of Khelbes and His Wife and the Learned Man
Breslau Text.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
This document is a detailed table of contents for 'VOLUME THE FIRST' of a collection of stories, likely from an Arabian tradition. It lists twelve main narratives, many of which are further broken down into numerous sub-stories. These sub-stories are often explicitly linked to a specific moral or theme, such as patience, clemency, destiny, or the effects of good and evil actions. The titles suggest a focus on kings, caliphs, viziers, and common people, exploring various aspects of human nature and societal interactions within a framework of moral instruction.
Themes
Emotional Arc
informational
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The names of historical figures like Haroun Er Reshid (Abbasid Caliph) and the Barmecides firmly place many of these stories within the context of the early Islamic Golden Age, particularly the Abbasid Caliphate (8th-13th centuries AD). The mention of 'Delhi Edition' and 'Breslau Text' suggests a history of translation and publication across different regions and languages.
Plot Beats (6)
- The document presents itself as 'VOLUME THE FIRST' from a 'Delhi Edition' of a 'Breslau Text'.
- It lists a series of main stories, numbered 1 through 12.
- Many main stories, particularly 'The Ten Viziers' and 'King Shah Bekht and His Vizier Er Rehwan', contain numerous sub-stories.
- These sub-stories are often categorized by a specific moral or theme, such as 'Of the Uselessness of Endeavour Against Persistent Ill Fortune' or 'Of Clemency'.
- The titles of the stories suggest a collection of tales from an Arabian or Middle Eastern tradition, featuring caliphs, viziers, merchants, and kings.
- The document concludes by reiterating 'Breslau Text' at the end.
Characters
The Lackpenny
Lean and gaunt, reflecting his poverty. His frame is likely thin from lack of sustenance, with visible bones under his worn clothing. He moves with a slight stoop, indicative of his downtrodden state.
Attire: Simple, patched, and faded cotton tunic and trousers, likely in earthy tones like grey or brown, showing signs of extensive wear and repair. He might wear simple, worn leather sandals or go barefoot.
Wants: To satisfy his hunger and acquire food without means.
Flaw: His extreme poverty and hunger, which drive him to risky actions.
He successfully outwits the cook and obtains a meal, demonstrating his cleverness in a desperate situation.
Resourceful, cunning, desperate, observant, and somewhat audacious in his pursuit of a meal.
The Cook
Stout and well-fed, reflecting his profession and access to food. He stands with a confident, perhaps slightly arrogant posture, hands often on his hips.
Attire: A clean, practical white linen tunic, possibly stained with cooking ingredients, over loose dark trousers. He might wear a simple white head covering or cap. A sturdy leather apron is tied around his waist.
Wants: To protect his livelihood and ensure no one takes advantage of his business.
Flaw: His pride in his culinary skills and his adherence to logical, if unusual, arguments.
He is outwitted by the Lackpenny but accepts the outcome, demonstrating a surprising degree of fairness.
Shrewd, vigilant, proud of his wares, and initially suspicious of strangers, but ultimately fair-minded when presented with a logical argument.
Locations
Delhi
A bustling ancient city in India, implied as a center of knowledge and storytelling, given the 'Delhi Edition' reference.
Mood: Vibrant, historical, intellectual
The implied origin or setting for the collection of tales.
Breslau
A European city, likely in what is now Poland, serving as another point of origin or transmission for these stories, indicated by 'Breslau Text'.
Mood: Historical, scholarly, European
Another implied origin or setting for the collection of tales.
Abbasid Caliphate Palace (Baghdad)
A grand Islamic palace, likely in Baghdad, during the Abbasid era, where figures like Haroun Er Reshid and Jaafer Ben Yehya would reside and hold court.
Mood: Opulent, powerful, intellectual, sometimes tense
Settings for tales involving Khalifs, viziers, and courtly intrigue, such as 'Haroun Er Reshid and the Woman of the Barmecides'.