When the Khalifate fell to El Mamoun the son of Haroun er Reshid，the latters brother Ibrahim，son of El Mehdi，refused to acknowledge his nephew and betook himself to Er Rei，[130]
where he proclaimed himself Khalif and abode thus a year and eleven months and twelve days.Meanwhile Mamoun remained awaiting his return to allegiance，till，at last，despairing of this，he mounted with his horsemen and footmen and repaired to Er Rei in quest of him.When the news came to Ibrahim，he found nothing for it but to flee to Baghdad and hide there，fearing for his life；and Mamoun set a price of a hundred thousand dinars upon his head.
（Quoth Ibrahim） Now when I heard of this price being set upon my head，I feared for myself and knew not what to do： so I disguised myself and went forth of my house at midday，knowing not whither I should go.Presently，I entered a street that had no issue and said in myself，'Verily，we are Gods and to Him we return！I have exposed myself to destruction.If I retrace my steps，I shall arouse suspicion.'Then I espied，at the upper end of the street，a negro standing at his door；so I went up to him and said to him，'Hast thou a place where I may abide awhile of the day？'Yes，'answered he，and opening the door，admitted me into a decent house，furnished with carpets and mats and cushions of leather.Then he shut the door on me and went away；and I misdoubted me he had heard of the reward offered for me and said in myself，'He has gone to inform against me.'But，as I sat pondering my case and boiling like the pot over the fire，my host came back，followed by a porter loaded with meat and bread and new cooking-pots and goblets and a new jar and other needful gear.He took them from the porter and dismissing him，said to me，'I make myself thy ransom！I am a barber-surgeon，and I know it would mislike thee to eat with me，because of the way in which I get my living；so do thou shift for thyself with these things whereon no hand hath fallen.'Now I was anhungred；so I cooked me a pot of meat，whose like I mind me not ever to have eaten；
and when I had done my desire，hesaid to me，'O my lord，God make me thy ransom！Art thou for wine？Indeed，it gladdens the soul and does away care.'I have no objection，'replied I，being desirous of his company；so he brought me new flagons of glass，that no hand had touched，and a jar of excellent wine，and said to me，'Mix for thyself，to thy liking.'So I cleared the wine and mixed myself a most pleasant draught.Then he brought me a new cup and fruits and flowers in new vessels of earthenware；after which he said to me，'Wilt thou give me leave to sit apart and drink of wine of my own by myself，of my joy in thee and for thee？'Do so.'answered I.So we drank，he and I，till the wine began to take effect upon us，when he rose and going to a closet，took out a lute of polished wood and said to me，'O my lord，it is not for the like of me to ask thee to sing，but it behoves thine exceeding generosity to render my respect its due；so，an thou see fit to honour thy slave，thine is the august decision.'Quoth I （and indeed I thought not that he knew me），'How knowest thou that I excel in song？'Glory be to God！'
answered he.'Our lord is too well renowned for that！[131]
Thou art my lord Ibrahim，son of El Mehdi，our Khalif of yesterday，he on whose head Mamoun hath set a price of a hundred thousand dinars： but thou art in safety with me.'When I heard him say this，he was magnified in my eyes and his loyalty was certified to me；so I complied with his wish and took the lute and tuned it.Then I bethought me of my severance from my children and my family and sang the following verses：
It may be that He，who restored his folk to Joseph of old And raised him to high estate from the prison where in bonds he lay，Will hear our prayer and unite us；for Allah，the Lord of the worlds，All-powerful is，and His puissance knows neither let nor stay.
When the barber heard this，exceeding delight took possession of him and he was of great good cheer；（for it is said that when Ibrahims neighbours heard him [but] say，'Ho，boy，saddle the mule！'they were filled with delight）.Then，being overborne by mirth，he said to me （continues Ibrahim），'O my lord，wilt thou give me leave to say what is come to my mind，for all I am not of the folk of the craft？'Do so，'answered I；'this is of thy great courtesy and kindness.'So he took the lute and sang the following verses：
Unto our loved ones we made our moan of our nights so long and drear；And lo，'How short is the night with us！'quoth they we hold so dear.
This is because quick-coming sleep closes their happy eyes，But slumber comes not to close our lids，that burn with many a tear.
When the night approaches，the night so dread and drear to those that love，We are oppressed with grief；but they rejoice，when the night draws near.
Had they but drunken our bitter cup and suffered of our dole，Then were their nights as ours，as long and full of heavy cheer.
'Thou hast acquitted thee rarely，O my friend，'said I，'and hast done away from me the pangs of sorrow.Let me hear more trifles of thy fashion.'So he sang these verses：
So a mans honour be unstained and free of all impair，Lo，every garment that he dights on him is fit and fair.
She taunted me，because，forsooth，our numbers were but few；But I'The noble，'answer made，'are ever few and rare.'
It irks us nought that we are few and eke our neighbour great，For all the neighbours of most folk are scant and mean elsewhere；
For were a folk，that deem not death an evil nor reproach，Albeit Aamir and Seloul so deem，of their despair.
The love of death that is in us brings near our ends to us，But theirs，who loathe and rail at it，are long and far to fare.
We，an it like us，give the lie to others of their speech；But，when we speak，no man on earth to gainsay us doth dare.
