The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night
THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights Entertainments Translated and Annotated by Richard F. Burton VOLUME NINE Privately Printed By The Burton Club To Alexander Baird of Urie. My Dear Baird, I avail my self of a privilege of authorship, not yet utterly obsolete, to place your name at the head of this volume. Your long residence in Egypt and your extensive acquaintance with its "politic," private and public, make you a thouroughly
'Very good,' observed Karataka; 'but what is all this talk about?'
'Why! don't you see our Royal Master there, and how he came home without
drinking? I know he has been horribly frightened,' said Damanaka.
'How do you know it?' asked the other.
'By my perception--at a glance!' replied Damanaka; 'and I mean to make
out of this occasion that which shall put his Majesty at my disposal,'
'Now,' exclaimed Karataka, 'it is thou who art ignorant about service--
'Who speaks unasked, or comes unbid,
Or counts on favor--will be chid.'
'I ignorant about service!' said Damanaka; 'no, no, my friend, I know
the secret of it--
'Wise, modest, constant, ever close at hand,
Not weighing but obeying all command,
Such servant by a Monarch's throne may stand.'
'In any case, the King often rates thee,' remarked Karataka, 'for coming
to the presence unsummoned.'
THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights Entertainments Translated and Annotated by Richard F. Burton VOLUME NINE Privately Printed By The Burton Club To Alexander Baird of Urie. My Dear Baird, I avail my self of a privilege of authorship, not yet utterly obsolete, to place your name at the head of this volume. Your long residence in Egypt and your extensive acquaintance with its "politic," private and public, make you a thouroughly