When the table was uncovered, they brought him a particular liquor,
of which he caused them to give me a glass. I drank, and wrote upon
it some new verses, which explained the state I was reduced to
after many sufferings. The sultan read them likewise, and said, 'A
man that was capable of doing so much would be above the greatest
of men.'
The sultan caused them to bring in a chess-board, and asked me, by
a sign, if I understood the game, and would play with him. I kissed
the ground, and laying my hand upon my head, signified that I was
ready to receive that honour. He won the first game, but I won the
second and third; and perceiving he was somewhat displeased at it,
I made a poem to pacify him; in which I told him that two potent
armies had been fighting furiously all day, but that they made up a
peace towards the evening, and passed the remaining part of the
night very peaceably together upon the field of battle.
So many circumstances appearing to the sultan far beyond whatever
any one had either seen or known of the cleverness or sense of
apes, he determined not to be the only witness of those prodigies
himself; but having a daughter, called the Lady of Beauty, on whom
the chief of the chamberlains, then present, waited, 'Go,' said the
sultan to him, 'and bid your lady come hither: I am desirous she
should share my pleasure.
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