burton--1001-nights--sample

furnished with a handle without, for which he made a ball; the two
being prepared with consummate art. On the next day when both were
ready for use and wanted nothing more, he went up to the King; and,
kissing the ground between his hands bade him ride forth on the
parade ground 30 there to play at pall and mall. He was accompanied by
his suite, Emirs and Chamberlains, Wazirs and Lords of the realm and,
ere he was seated, the sage Duban came up to him, and handing him
the bat said, “Take this mall and grip it as I do; so! and now push for
the plain and leaning well over thy horse drive the ball with all thy
might until thy palm be moist and thy body perspire: then the medicine
will penetrate through thy palm and will permeate thy person.
When thou hast done with playing and thou feelest the effects of the
medicine, return to thy palace, and make the Ghusl-ablution in the
Hammam-bath, and lay thee down to sleep; so shalt thou become
whole; and now peace be with thee!”
Thereupon King Yunan took the bat from the Sage and grasped it
firmly; then, mounting steed, he drove the ball before him and gallopped
after it till he reached it, when he struck it with all his might,
his palm gripping the bat handle the while; and he ceased not malling
the ball till his hand waxed moist and his skin, perspiring, imbibed the
medicine from the wood. Then the sage Duban knew that the drugs
had penetrated his person and bade him return to the palace and enter
the Hammam without stay or delay; so King Yunan forthright returned
and ordered them to clear for him the bath. They did so, the carpet
spreaders making all haste, and the slaves all hurry and got ready a
30
Arab. Maydán (from Persian); an open space, in or near the city, used for reviewing
troops, races, playing the Jeríd (cane-spear) and other sports and exercises. The
game here alluded to is our “polo,” or hockey on horseback, a favourite with the
Persian Kings.
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