Page:Folk-lore of the Holy Land.djvu/152

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FOLK-LORE OF THE HOLY LAND

The sultan, furious, ordered the officious wretch to be bastinadoed, thrown into prison, and fed on bread and water for a year. Then, turning fiercely on the trembling herd of councillors, he stamped his foot, repeating his demand of them. For a while they trembled in silence. Then the sheykh of the Learned[1] stepped forward, and raising his hands and eyes to heaven exclaimed: “Praise be to Allah, who has deigned to reveal to your Majesty the blessing which He holds in store for all the nations under your dominion; for this is the interpretation of that Heaven-sent dream; that you are destined to outlive all your kindred.”

The monarch filled the old man’s mouth with pearls, hung a gold chain round his neck, and put on him a robe of honour.

  1. ↑ Sheykh el' Ulema.
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