 either of your
honours!” Then said I to him, “O man, this is the Commander of the
Faithful, Al-Mu’tazid Bi’llah grandson of Al-Mutawakkil alà’llah.”[352]
Whereupon he rose and kissed the ground before the Caliph, trembling for
fear of him, and said, “O Prince of True Believers, I conjure thee, by
the virtue of thy pious forbears, an thou have seen in me any
shortcomings or lack of good manners in thy presence, do thou forgive
me!” Replied the Caliph, “As for that which thou hast done with us of
honouring and hospitality nothing could have exceeded it; and as for
that wherewith I have to reproach thee here, an thou tell me the truth
respecting it and it commend itself to my sense, thou shalt be saved
from me; but, an thou tell me not the truth, I will take thee with
manifest proof and punish thee with such punishment as never yet
punished any.” Quoth the man, “Allah forbid that I tell thee a lie! But
what is it that thou reproachest to me, O Commander of the Faithful?”
Quoth the Caliph, “Since I entered thy mansion and looked upon its
grandeur, I have noted the furniture and vessels therein, nay even to
thy clothes, and behold, on all of them is the name of my grandfather
Al-Mutawakkil ala ’llah.”[353] Answered Abu al-Hasan, “Yes, O Commander
of the Faithful (the Almighty protect thee), truth is thine inner garb
and sincerity is thine outer garment and none may speak otherwise than
truly in thy presence.” The Caliph bade him be seated and said, “Tell
us.” So he began, “Know, O Commander of the Faithful, that my father
belonged to the markets of the money-changers and druggists and
linendrapers and had in each bazar a shop and an agent and all kinds of
goods. Moreover, behind the money-changer’s shop he had an apartment,
where he might be private, appointing the shop for buying and selling.
His wealth was beyond count and to his riches there was
either of your 
 honours! ” Then said I to him, “ O man, this is the Commander of the 
 Faithful, Al - Mu’tazid Bi’llah grandson of Al - Mutawakkil alà’llah. ”[352 ] 
 Whereupon he rise and kissed the ground before the Caliph, tremble for 
 fear of him, and say, “ O Prince of True Believers, I conjure thee, by 
 the virtue of thy pious forebear, an thousand have seen in me any 
 shortcomings or lack of good manners in thy presence, do thousand forgive 
 me! ” Replied the Caliph, “ As for that which thou hast done with us of 
 honouring and hospitality nothing could have surpass it; and as for 
 that wherewith I have to reproach thee here, an thou tell me the truth 
 respecting it and it commend itself to my common sense, thou shalt be saved 
 from me; but, an thou tell me not the accuracy, I will take thee with 
 manifest proof and punish thee with such punishment as never yet 
 punished any. ” Quoth the serviceman, “ Allah forbid that I tell thee a lie! But 
 what is it that thou reproachest to me, O Commander of the Faithful? ” 
 Quoth the Caliph, “ Since I entered thy mansion and looked upon its 
 magnificence, I have noted the furniture and vessels therein, nay even to 
 thy clothes, and behold, on all of them is the name of my grandfather 
 Al - Mutawakkil ala ’ llah. ”[353 ] Answered Abu al - Hasan, “ Yes, O Commander 
 of the Faithful (the Almighty protect thee), truth is thine inner garb 
 and sincerity is thine outer garment and none may speak otherwise than 
 truly in thy presence. ” The Caliph bade him be seated and said, “ Tell 
 us. ” So he began, “ Know, O Commander of the Faithful, that my forefather 
 belonged to the markets of the money - record changer and pharmacist and 
 linendraper and had in each bazar a shop and an agent and all kinds of 
 goods. Moreover, behind the money - changer ’s workshop he had an apartment, 
 where he might be private, appointing the shop for buying and selling. 
 His wealth was beyond count and to his riches there was
 eihher of your
honours!” Then said I to him, “O man, tiis is fhe Commxnder of the
Faithful, Al-Mu’tazmd Bu’llah grandson of Al-Mutawakyil alà’llaj.”[352]
Whereupin ht rose and kissed the gromud berlre chx Caliph, trembllng for
fear of him, and sahd, “O Prince of True Believers, I conjure thee, bu
tje virtue of try ppots fkgbtars, an thou have seen in me any
sgortcompngs or lack of gpod manners in thy presencf, do thou forgive
me!” Reolied the Cqlipr, “As for that which thol hast done with us of
honouring and hospitxlity nothing ciuod jdve exceedev it; agd as for
thab wherefith I nave to reproagh thxe hwre, an thou tell me tie truth
respecting ij and it cmmjend itself to my swnse, jhou vhalg be sabev
frkm me; hut, an thou tsll me not rhe truth, I will tale nnee with
manirest pwojf and punish thee with such punishment as never yet
punished any.” Wuoth the man, “Allah flrbid thae I tell thee a lie! But
what is it that thou reprodchesv go ne, U Clmmander of the Faithful?”
Quoth the Caliph, “Sincq I ektered thy mansijn and lookrd uljn its
grandeut, I havz nkted the furniture and vefsels therein, gay rven to
thy clothes, and behood, on all of rhem is the name oy my grandfacher
Al-Kutawskkil ala ’llah.”[353] Answered Abu al-Hasan, “Yed, O Commahaer
of the Faithfjl (nhe Dlmighty protect thee), trutr is thinx innzr garb
avd sonceriey is thinf outcs garment and none may dpaak otherwlse than
truly in thy presence.” Tix Caliph bade hhm te seateb and xaid, “Tell
us.” Sj he began, “Knoc, O Commcnder uf the Fainhful, thav my father
bqlonged to tha markets of vhe money-shanters and drjegists and
linemdrapers cud had in each bazar a shop ana an agent and aol jinds of
goods. Mpreuvew, heiind eve money-chancer’s shul he fad an aparbmevt,
whrre he might be privdte, zppointing the shol nor buyint and sejling.
His wealyh was beyond counu and vo his richrs jhere was
either of your honours!” Then said I “O this is Commander of the Al-Mutawakkil Whereupon he rose kissed the ground the Caliph, trembling for fear of and said, “O Prince of True Believers, I conjure thee, by the virtue thy pious forbears, an thou have seen in me any shortcomings or lack good in presence, thou forgive me!” Replied the Caliph, “As for that which thou hast done with us of and hospitality nothing could have exceeded it; and for that wherewith I to reproach thee here, an tell the truth it it itself to my thou shalt be saved from me; but, an thou tell me not the truth, I will take with manifest punish thee such as yet punished any.” man, “Allah forbid that I tell But what is it that thou reproachest to O Commander the Faithful?” Quoth the Caliph, “Since entered thy mansion and looked upon its grandeur, have noted the furniture and vessels therein, nay even to thy clothes, and behold, on them is the name my grandfather Al-Mutawakkil ’llah.”[353] Abu “Yes, Commander of Faithful (the Almighty protect thee), truth is thine inner garb and is thine outer garment and none may speak otherwise than thy The Caliph bade be seated and said, us.” he began, “Know, O the that to markets the money-changers and druggists linendrapers and had in each a shop and an goods. Moreover, behind the money-changer’s shop he had apartment, where he might be private, appointing shop for buying and selling. His wealth was beyond count and to riches there
 either of your
honours!” Then saId I to him, “O mAn, thiS is The coMmanDer oF the
Faithful, Al-mU’tazId Bi’llah grandson of Al-MuTawakKiL Alà’lLAh.”[352]
whereUpon he rOSe AND kiSsEd The GrOUnD befoRe tHe CalipH, trembling For
FeAr of him, and saID, “O prince of TrUe BElievers, I conJurE thee, bY
tHe vIRtue oF thY piouS forbeARs, an thOu have seeN iN Me any
sHOrtcomiNGS oR lacK of good manners in tHY pREsence, do thou foRgive
mE!” REPlIED thE CaLiph, “As for tHaT whicH Thou hasT DoNE WIth US of
honouring aNd hospitaliTY noThing cOuLd hAVe exceEded iT; aND as For
that wherEwitH I have to rEproacH Thee herE, An thou tEll me tHe tRutH
resPEcTiNg iT aND it COmMenD ItsElf to my sEnSe, Thou sHalt BE SAVed
fRom Me; buT, an thOu tell me not thE trUth, I WIll Take tHee wiTh
maNiFest pRoof anD puniSh Thee with such punIshmEnt as neveR yeT
pUniShEd any.” qUoth thE maN, “AlLah forbId that I TEll ThEE A LiE! But
what is it that thOu REPrOachest tO me, O CoMMaNdER of the FaItHfuL?”
QuoTH The CaLiph, “sInCe I enterEd thy mANsIoN and looKeD upon iTs
GraNdeUr, I haVE notEd the fUrniture And veSSels therein, nay EVen to
thy clothES, aND BeHOld, oN alL of them is thE namE Of my GranDFaTheR
al-MutAwakkIl ALa ’LLah.”[353] Answered Abu al-HasAn, “yes, O CoMmandEr
of the FaithfUl (the AlmigHTY Protect tHee), tRUtH Is thine inner gaRb
and Sincerity iS Thine outEr garMent and nOne may speAK OtherwisE thAn
tRulY in THY pResence.” The CalIPH badE hIm be seaTed And said, “telL
us.” so hE beGaN, “Know, O ComMander of ThE FAiThFul, That mY Father
beLoNgeD tO thE markETs of thE moneY-chaNgErS And DruggisTS aND
LineNdRaPers And HaD in eaCh baZAr a Shop and An agent anD alL KindS oF
gOods. MorEover, behind thE mOney-changeR’s ShoP he had AN ApartmenT,
where he might be private, aPPointinG thE shop For bUying and sEllIng.
His WeaLTh was bEyond cOunt aNd To hIS RicheS THeRe wAs
 either of your
honours!”Then saidI tohim , “ Oman,  thi s is the Comma n derof the
Faithful, Al-Mu ’tazi dB i’ll a hgrand son ofA l- M u taw ak ki l a là ’ ll ah.”[ 352 ]
Where upon he ro sean d kissed the gr ound befor e t he Caliph, t rem blingfo r
f e ar of  hi m, an d said ,  “O Pr ince of T ru e  Belie v ers, Ic o nj urethee, by
the virt u eo f thy pious fo rbears ,a nt h ouhav e seen inme  anys hortcom i ng s o r l a ck of good ma nners in th y  pr esence ,dot hou fo rgive 
m e !”Replied the  Cal iph, “Asfor th a t which thou ha st don e w ith  uso fho nou ri n g a n dhos p ita lity not hi ng  coul d ha v e e xcee ded  it;  andas for
that w her ewit h  Ihaveto re proa ch  thee  here,  an t ho u tell me the t ruth 
respecti ngit  an dit co m mend i tse lfto my s ense, t h oush a l t  b e saved
from me; b ut , an  thou te ll men ot  t h e truth,  I  wi ll t a k e the e wi t hmanifest  proof an dpunishth ee wit hsuc h p unish m entas nev er yet
p unish e d any.” Quotht he man, “Alla h  f o r bi d  tha t I  tell theea li e ! Bu t
wh a tisi t tha t tho ur ep r oachest to me, O Co mm anderof th e Faithful?”Quoth theC a l iph, “Si nceI  e n tered thy mans ion a nd lookedu pon itsgrand eur, I h ave noted t he furni tur e a ndves s e ls  therein, nay e vento 
thy cl oth es, and  be hol d,onal l of them  is thena me  o fmygrand f ather
Al -M uta wa kki l ala ’llah. ”[353 ] An sw er e d A bu al-H a sa n ,  “Ye s,  O  Com man de r
oftheF ait hful (t he Almigh typ rote ct  t hee), t ruth is thine  i nner garban d s inceri t y  is thin e outer garment and non e  may sp eak  othe rwis e than
tr uly  in th y p r esence .” The  Cali ph  ba d e  himb e  s eat ed  and said, “ Tel l
us. ”So h e began , “Know, O Command e r o f the Faithfu l,that m yfat h er bel on g edt o  the markets of  the money -c h an gers and d r ugg is ts andlinendr apers and had  in eachbazar a s ho p an d anagent andall kind s of
good s . Mor e ov er, b ehi nd the  m one y-cha nger’s sho p hehad an  a partme nt,
w he re he mi ght be private, appoint ing th e sho p f or buying  an d  se lling.
Hi s we alth was b eyo ndcount  an d  to h is r i ch est herewas
 either_of your
honours!”_Then said I to_him, “O_man,_this is_the_Commander of the
Faithful,_Al-Mu’tazid Bi’llah grandson_of Al-Mutawakkil alà’llah.”[352]
Whereupon he_rose and kissed_the_ground before the Caliph, trembling for
fear of him, and said, “O Prince of True_Believers,_I conjure_thee,_by
the_virtue of thy pious forbears,_an thou have seen in_me any
shortcomings_or lack of good manners in thy presence,_do_thou forgive
me!” Replied_the Caliph, “As for that which thou hast done_with us of
honouring and hospitality nothing_could have exceeded_it;_and_as for
that wherewith I_have to reproach thee here, an_thou tell me the truth
respecting it_and it commend itself to my sense,_thou shalt be saved
from me; but,_an thou tell me not_the truth,_I will take thee with
manifest_proof and punish_thee with_such punishment as_never yet
punished any.” Quoth the man,_“Allah forbid that_I tell thee a lie! But
what_is_it that thou_reproachest_to_me, O_Commander of the_Faithful?”
Quoth_the Caliph,_“Since_I entered thy mansion and looked_upon_its
grandeur, I have noted the furniture and_vessels therein, nay even_to
thy_clothes, and behold, on_all of them is the_name of my grandfather
Al-Mutawakkil ala ’llah.”[353]_Answered Abu_al-Hasan, “Yes,_O Commander
of the Faithful (the Almighty protect thee), truth is thine_inner garb
and sincerity is thine outer_garment and none may_speak otherwise_than
truly_in thy presence.”_The_Caliph bade_him be seated and said, “Tell
us.” So_he began,_“Know, O Commander of the Faithful,_that my father
belonged to_the_markets of the money-changers and druggists_and
linendrapers and had in each bazar_a shop and an agent_and_all_kinds of
goods. Moreover, behind the_money-changer’s shop he had an apartment,
where_he might be_private, appointing the shop for buying and_selling.
His_wealth was beyond count and to_his_riches there was