this evil, it will be proper to add, that I will put every candidate to
death, who shall fail to give satisfaction: for, thank Heaven! I have skill
enough to distinguish, whether one translates or invents.«
    »Of that I have no doubt,« replied Carathis; »but, to put the ignorant to
death is somewhat severe, and may be productive of dangerous effects. Content
yourself with commanding their beards to be burnt: - beards in a state, are not
quite so essential as men.«
    The Caliph submitted to the reasons of his mother; and, sending for
Morakanabad, his prime vizir, said, - »Let the common criers proclaim, not only
in Samarah, but throughout every city in my empire, that whosoever will repair
hither and decipher certain characters which appear to be inexplicable, shall
experience that liberality for which I am renowned; but, that all who fail upon
trial shall have their beards burnt off to the last hair. Let them add, also,
that I will bestow fifty beautiful slaves, and as many jars of apricots from the
Isle of Kirmith, upon any man that shall bring me intelligence of the stranger.«
    The subjects of the Caliph, like their sovereign, being great admirers of
women and apricots from Kirmith, felt their mouths water at these promises, but
were totally unable to gratify their hankering; for no one knew what had become
of the stranger.
    As to the Caliph's other requisition, the result was different. The learned,
the half learned, and those who were neither, but fancied themselves equal to
both, came boldly to hazard their beards, and all shamefully lost them. The
exaction of these forfeitures, which found sufficient employment for the
eunuchs, gave them such a smell of singed hair, as greatly to disgust the ladies
of the seraglio, and to make it necessary that this new occupation of their
guardians should be transferred to other hands.
    At length, however, an old man presented himself, whose beard was a cubit
and a half longer than any that had appeared before him. The officers of the
palace whispered to each other, as they ushered him in - »What a pity, oh! what
a great pity that such a beard should be burnt!« Even the Caliph, when he saw
it, concurred with them in opinion; but his concern was entirely needless. This
venerable personage read the characters with facility, and explained them
verbatim as follows: »We were made where every thing is well made: we are the
least of the wonders of a place where