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rating the bath； adding； 'There lacks nought but the furniture。' The king gave him ten thousand dinars； with which he furnished the bath and ranged the napkins on the cords； and all who passed by the door stared at it and their mind was confounded at its decorations。 So the people crowded to this thing； whose like they had never in their lives seen； and stood staring at it and saying； 'What is this thing？' To which Abousir replied； 'This is a bath；' and they marvelled thereat。
Then he heated water and set the bath awork； and he made a fountain in the ＇central＇ basin； which ravished the wit of all who saw it of the people of the city。 Moreover he sought of the king ten white slaves not yet e to manhood； and he gave him ten boys like moons： whereupon Abousir proceeded to shampoo them； saying； 'Do thus and thus with the customers；' ＇till they were perfect in the bathman's craft＇。 Then he burnt perfumes and sent out a crier to cry aloud in the city； saying； 'O creatures of God； get ye to the bath； for it is called the Sultan's Bath！' So the people came to the bath and Abousir bade the slaveboys wash their bodies。 The folk went down into the bath and ing forth； seated themselves on the estrade； whilst the boys shampooed them； even as Abousir had taught them； and they ceased not to enter the bath and do their occasion thereof and go out； without paying； for the space of three days。
Then the barber invited the king； who took horse with his grandees and rode to the bath； where he put oft his clothes and entered； whereupon Abousir came in to him and rubbed his body with the bathgloves； peeling the dirt from his skin ＇in rolls＇ like lampwicks and showing them to the king； who rejoiced therein； till his body shone for very smoothness and purity； after which Abousir mingled rosewater with the water of the tank and the king went down therein。 When he came forth； his body was refreshed and he felt a lightness and liveliness such as he had never in his life known。 Then the barber made him sit on the estrade and the boys proceeded to shampoo him； whilst the censers smoked with the finest aloeswood。
Then said the king； 'O master； is this the bath？' And Abousir answered； 'Yes。' 'As my head liveth；' quoth the king； 'my city is not bee a city indeed but by this bath！ But what pay takest thou for each person？' 'That which thou biddest me will I take；' replied Abousir； and the king said； 'Take a thousand dinars for every one who washeth in thy bath。' But Abousir said； 'Pardon； O king of the age！ All men are not alike； but there are amongst them rich and poor； and if I take of each a thousand dinars； the bath will stand empty； for the poor man cannot avail to this price。' 'How then wilt thou do for the price？' asked the king。 'I will leave it to the generosity ＇of the customers＇；' answered the barber。 'Each who can afford aught shall pay that which his soul grudgeth not to give； and we will take from every man； after the measure of his condition。 So will the folk e to us and he who is rich shall give according to his station and he who is poor shall give what he can afford。 On this wise the bath will still be at work and prosper； but a thousand dinars is a king's gift； and not every man can avail thereto。'
The grandees of the kingdom confirmed Abousir's words； saying； 'This is the truth； O king of the age！ Thinkest thou that all folk are like unto thee； O glorious king？' 'You say sooth；' answered the king； 'but this man is a stranger and poor and it behoveth us to deal generously with him； for that he hath made in our city this bath； whose like we have never in our lives seen and without which our city were not adorned nor had gotten importance； wherefore； if we guerdon him with increase of pay； it will not be much。' But the grand ees said； 'If thou wilt guerdon him； let it be of thine own monies； and be the king's bounty extended to the poor by means of the low price of the bath； so the folk may bless thee； but； as for the thousand dinars； we are the grandees of thine empire； yet do our souls grudge to pay it； and how then should the poor afford it？' Quoth the king； 'O my grandees； for this time let each of you give him a hundred dinars and a white slave and a black and a slavegirl。' 'It is well；' answered they； 'but after today each who enters shall give him only what he can afford； without grudging。' 'So be it；' said the king； and they gave him each as he had said。
Now the number of the nobles who were washed with the king that day was four hundred souls； so that the sum of that which they gave him was forty thousand dinars； besides four hundred black and four hundred white slaves and a like number of slavegirls。 Moreover； the king gave him ten thousand dinars； besides ten white slaves and ten black and a like number of slavegirls； whereupon Abousir kissed the earth before him and said； 'O august king； lord of just judgment； what place will suffice me for all these slaves and women？' Quoth the king； 'O lackwit； I bade not my nobles deal thus with thee but that we might gather together unto thee great plenty of wealth； for maybe thou wilt bethink thee of thy country and family and yearn unto them and be minded to return to thy native place； so shalt thou take from our country store of wealth； to maintain thyself withal； what while thou livest in thine own land。' 'O king of the age；' replied Abousir； （may God advance thee！） these many slaves and women are a king's behoof； and hadst thou ordered me ready money； it were more profitable to me than this army； for they must eat and drink and be clothed； and whatever betideth me of wealth； it will not suffice to their support。'
The king laughed and said； 'By Allah； thou sayst sooth！ They are indeed a mighty host； and thou mayst not avail unto their maintenance； but wilt thou sell them to me for a hundred dinars each？' Quoth Abousir； 'I sell them to thee at that price。' So the king sent to his treasurer for the money and he brought it and gave Abousir the whole of the price； in full； after which the king restored the slaves to their former owners； saying； 'Let each of you who knoweth his slaves take them； for they are a gift from me to you。' So they obeyed his mandment and took each his own； whilst the barber said to the king； 'God ease thee； O king of the age； even as thou hast eased me of these ghouls； whom none may fill save God！' The king laughed； and gave him reason； then； taking the grandees of his realm； returned to his palace； but Abousir passed the night in counting his money and laying it up in bags and sealing them； and he had with him twenty black slaves and a like number of white and four slavegirls to serve him。
On the morrow； as soon as it was day； he opened the bath and sent out a crier to make proclamation； saying； 'Whoso entereth the bath and washeth shall give that which he can afford and which his generosity deemeth fit。' Then he seated himself by the chest and customers flocked in upon him； each putting down that which was easy to him； nor was eventide e before the chest was full of the good gifts of God the Most High。 Presently the queen desired to go to the bath； and when this came to Abousir's knowledge； he divided the day； on her account； into two parts； appointing the time between daybreak and noon to the men and that between noon and sundown to the e； he stationed a female slave behind the paychest； for he had taught four slavegirls the service of the bath； so that they were bee expert bathwomen。 So； when the queen entered； this pleased her and her breast dilated and she laid down a thousand dinars。
On this wise his report was noised abroad in the city； and all who entered the bath he entreated with honour； were they rich or poor； and good came in upon him at every door。 Moreover he made acquaintance with the king's officers and got him friends and panions。 The king himself used to e to him one day in every week； and the other days of the week were for rich and poor alike； and he was wont to deal courteously with the folk and use them with the utmost of consideration。 It chanced that the king's seacaptain came in to him one day in the bath； so Abousir put off his clothes and going in with him； proceeded to shampoo him and entreated him with the utmost courtesy。 When he came forth； he made him sherbet and coffee； and when he would have given him somewhat； he swore that he would accept nothing from him。 So the captain abode under obligation to him； by reason of his exceeding kindness and courtesy to him； and kne his generous dealing with him。
Meanwhile Aboukir； bearing all the people talking rapturously of the bath and saying； 'Verily； this bath is the Paradise of this world！ God willing； O such an one； thou shalt go with us tomorrow to this delectable bath；' said to himself； 'Needs must I go like ＇the rest of the＇ folk and see this bath that hath taken their wits。' So he donned his richest clothes and mounting a mule； rode to the bath； attended by four white slaves and four black； walking before and behind him。 When he alighted at the door； he smelt the fragrance of burning aloeswood and saw people going in and out and the benches full of great and small。 So he entered the vestibule and saw Abousir； who rose to him and rejoiced in him： but the dyer said to him； 'Is this the fashion of men of honour？ I have opened me a dyery and am bee masterdyer of the city and acquainted with the king and have risen to fortune and lordship； yet camest thou not to me nor askedst of me nor saidst； 〃Where is my rade？〃 For my part； I sought thee in vain and sent my slaves and Servants to make search for thee in all the inns and other places； but they knew not whither thou hadst gone； nor could any give me news of thee。' Quoth Abousir； 'Did I not e to thee and didst thou not make me out a thief and beat me and disgrace me before the folk？'
At this Aboukir made a show of concern and said； 'What manner of talk is this？ Was it thou whom I beat？' 'Yes；' answered Abousir； 'it was I。' Whereupon Aboukir swore to him a thousand oaths that he knew him not and said； 'There was a fellow like unto thee； who used to e every day and steal the people's stuff； and I took thee for him。' And he went on to feign repentance； beating hand upon hand and saying； 'There is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High； the Supreme！ Indeed； I have sinned against thee； but would that thou hadst made thyself known to me and said； 〃I am such an one！〃 Indeed the fault is with thee； for that thou madest not thyself known unto me； more by token that I was distraught for much business。' 'God pardon thee； o my rade！' replied Abousir。 'This was foreordained； and reparation is with God。 Enter and put off thy clothes and bathe at thine ease。' 'I conjure thee by Allah； O my brother；' said the dyer； 'five me！' And Abousir said； 'God acquit thee of blame and five thee！ Indeed this thing was decreed to me from all eternity。'
Then said Aboukir； 'Whence gottest thou this lordship？' 'He who prospered thee prospered me；' answered Abousir。 'For I went up to the king and set forth to him the fashion of the bath； and he bade me build one。' And the dyer said； 'Even as thou art an acquaintance of the king； so also am I； and God willing； I will make him love and barr tender thee more than ever； for my sake； for he knows not that thou art my rade； but I will tell him of this and mend thee to him。' 'There needs no mendation；' answered Abousir； 'for He who inclib ＇men's hearts unto love＇ is ＇ever＇present； and indeed the king and all his court love me ＇already＇ and have given me this and that。' And he told him the whole story and said to him； 'Put off thy clothes behind the chest and enter the bath； and I will go in with thee and shampoo thee。' So he put off his clothes and Abousir； entering the bath with him； soaped him and shampooed him and busied himself with his service till he came forth； when he brought him the morning meal and sherbets； whilst all the folk marvelled at the honour he did him。
Then Aboukir would have given him somewhat； but he swore that he would take nothing from him and said to him； 'Shame upon thee！ Thou art my rade； and there is no difference between us。' 'By Allah； O my rade；' said Aboukir； 'this is a fine bath of thine； but there lacks one thing to thy fashion therein。' 'And what is that？' asked Abousir。 'It is