raised by the horses' hoofs. We were amazed at sight and sound,
knowing not what could be the matter. So we asked, and were told us

that the Wazir who had usurped my father's kingdom had marched his
men, and that after levying his soldiery and taking a host of wild

Arabs into service, he had come down upon us with armies like the
sands of the sea. Their number none could tell, and against them

none could prevail. They attacked the city unawares, and the citizens,
being powerless to oppose them, surrendered the place. My uncle was

slain and I made for the suburbs, saying to myself, "If thou fall into
this villain's hands, he will assuredly kill thee."

On this wise all my troubles were renewed, and I pondered all that
had betided my father and my uncle and I knew not what to do; for if

the city people or my father's troops had recognized me, they would
have done their best to will favor by destroying me. And I could think

of no way to escape save by shaving off my beard and my eyebrows. So I
shore them off and, changing my fine clothes for a Kalandar's rags,

I fared forth from my uncle's capital and made for this city, hoping
that peradventure someone would assist me to the presence of the

Prince of the Faithful, and the Caliph who is the Viceregent of
Allah upon earth. Thus have I come hither that I might tell him my

tale and lay my case before him. I arrived here this very night, and
was standing in doubt whither I should go when suddenly I saw this

second Kalandar. So I salaamed to him, saying, 'I am a stranger'
and he answered,- 'I too am a stranger!' And as we were conversing,

behold, up came our companion, this third Kalandar, and saluted us
saying, 'I am a stranger!' And we answered, `We too be strangers!'

Then we three walked on and together till darkness overtook us and
Destiny drave us to your house. Such, then. is the cause of the

shaving of my beard and mustachios and eyebrows, and the manner of
my losing my left eye. They marveled much at this tale, and the Caliph

said to Ja'afar, "By Allah, I have not seen nor have I heard the
like of what hath happened to this Kalandar!" Quoth the lady of the

house, "Rub thy head and wend thy ways." But he replied, "I will not
go till I hear the history of the two others." Thereupon the second

Kalandar came forward and, kissing the ground, began to tell

• prevail [pri´veil] vi.胜(过)；流行；普遍 (初中英语单词)
• assist [ə´sist] v.协助；援助；搀扶 (初中英语单词)
• faithful [´feiθfəl] a.忠实的；可靠的 (初中英语单词)
• hither [´hiðə] ad.到此处 (初中英语单词)
• standing [´stændiŋ] n.持续 a.直立的 (初中英语单词)
• companion [kəm´pæniən] n.同伴；同事；伴侣 (初中英语单词)
• thereupon [,ðeərə´pɔn] ad.因此；于是 (初中英语单词)
• saying [´seiŋ, ´sei-iŋ] n.言语；言论；格言 (高中英语单词)
• assuredly [ə´ʃuəridli] ad.确实地；确信地 (英语四级单词)
• overtook [,əuvə´tuk] overtake的过去式 (英语四级单词)
• taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
• powerless [´pauələs] a.软弱的；无资源的 (英语六级单词)
• shaving [´ʃeiviŋ] n.剃(须)；修面 (英语六级单词)