Then he sent for the soldier and his wife and the barber-surgeon
and asked the former what had moved him to do thus. "Lust of
money," answered he; whereupon quoth the Khalif, "It befits that
thou be a barber-surgeon,"[FN#136] and committed him to one whom
he charged to place him in a barber's shop, where he might learn
the craft. But his wife he entreated with honour and lodged in
his palace, saying, "This is a woman of sense and apt for matters
of moment." Then said he to the barber-surgeon, "Verily, what
has come to light of thy worth and generosity calls for
extraordinary honour." So he commanded the trooper's house and
all that was therein to be given him and bestowed on him a dress
of honour and fifteen thousand dinars.'
THE CITY OF IREM.
It is related that Abdallah ben Abou Kilabeh went forth in quest
of a camel that had strayed from him; and as he was wandering in
the deserts of Yemen and Sebaa, he came upon a great city in
whose midst was a vast citadel compassed about with pavilions,
that rose high into the air. He made for the place, thinking to
find there inhabitants, of whom he might enquire concerning his
camel; but, when he reached it, he found it deserted, without a
living soul in it.
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