[FN#130] The Rages of the Apocrypha; a great city of Persia,
formerly its capital, but now a mere heap of ruins in the
neighbourhood of Teheran.
[FN#131] Ibrahim ben El Mehdi was one of the most celebrated
musicians and wits of his day. "He was a man of great merit and
a perfect scholar, possessed of an open heart and a generous
hand; his like had never before been seen among the sons of the
Khalifs, none of whom spoke with more propriety and elegance or
composed verses with greater ability." (Ibn Khellikan.)
[FN#132] Ibrahim of Mosul, the greatest musician of the time, a
boon-companion and special favourite of Haroun er Reshid and his
son.
[FN#133] Lit. the lord of the blood-revenge, i.e. the person
entitled to exact the blood-wit.
[FN#134] His Vizier.
[FN#135] Joseph to his brethren, Koran xii. 92.
[FN#136] Playing upon the literal meaning, "blood-sucker," of the
word kejjam, cupper or barber-surgeon.
[FN#137] The Arabic word is el Medineh, lit. the city. Perhaps
the narrator meant to compare the citadel to the actual city of
Medina.
[FN#138] A well-known theologian.
[FN#139] Koran lxxxix. 6, 7.
[FN#140] According to the Breslau edition, it was the prophet
Hond who, being sent of God to exhort Sheddad and his people to
embrace the true faith, promised them Paradise in the next world,
as a reward, describing it as above.
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