ht him to go to the bath； so he said to one of the townsfolk； 'O my brother； which is the way to the bath？〃 'And what manner of thing is the bath？' asked the other。 Quoth Abousir； 'It is a place where people wash themselves and do away their defilements； and it is of the best of the good things of the world。' 'Get thee to the sea；' replied the townsman； but the barber replied； 'I want the bath。' Quoth the other； 'We know not what manner of thing is the bath； for we all resort to the sea； even the king； when he would wash； betaketh himself to the sea。'
When Abousir was certified that there was no bath in the city and that the people knew not the bath nor the fashion thereof he betook himself to the king's divan and kissing the earth before him； called down blessings on him and said； 'I am a stranger and a bathkeeper by trade； and I entered thy city and thought to go to the bath； but found not one therein。 How eth a city of this ely fashion to lack a bath； seeing that the bath is of the goodliest of the delights of this world？' Quoth the king； 'What manner of thing is the bath？' So Abousir proceeded to set forth to him the attributes of the bath； saying； 'Thy city will not be plete till there be a bath in it。' 'Wele to thee！' said the king and clad him in a dress that had not its like and gave him a horse and two black and two white slaves and four slavegirls。 Moreover he appointed him a furnished house and honoured him yet more abundantly than he had honoured the dyer。
Then he sent builders with him and bade them build him a bath in what place soever should please him。 So he took them and went with them through the midst of the city； till he saw a place that pleased him。 He pointed it out to the builders and they set to work； under his direction； and wrought till they built him a bath that had not its like。 Then he made them paint it； and they painted it on rare wise； so that it was a delight to the beholders； after which Abousir went up to the king and told him that they had made an end of building and decorating 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。 W