ALI AND HASSAN
FROM THE ALF LAYLAH WA LAYLAH.
ALI bade Hassan to his house to sup.
They ate, passed round the full forbidden cup,
Till, in an interval of dance and song,
Hassan forgot his manners—loud and long.
Struck with confusion, forth he fares, takes ship
To utmost Ind and far-off Serendip.
Full forty years he there abides: at last,
Rich and respected, he contemns the past :—
‘* If I declare myself, there ’s hope, I wot,
Hassan ’s remembered, and his fault forgot !—”
Determines to revisit home. Sweet airs
Accomplishing the voyage, he repairs
Unto the barber. ‘‘Tell me of the state!
Haroun still holds the royal Caliphate?”
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