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er； and Aboukir went on to name the different colours to him； one after another； till the dyer said； 'We are here in this city forty masterdyers； neither more nor less； and when one of us dies； we teach his son the craft。 If he leave no son； we abide wanting one； and if he leave two sons； we teach one of them the craft； and if he die； we teach his brother。 This our craft is straitly ordered and we know not how to dye aught but blue。'
Then said Aboukir； 'Know that I also am a dyer and know how to dye all colours； and I would have thee take me into thy service on hire； and I will teach thee my art； so thou mayst glory therein over all the pany of dyers。' But the dyer answered； 'We never admit a stranger into our craft。' 'And what if I open a dyery for myself？' asked Aboukir。 'We will not suffer thee to do that；' replied the other； whereupon he left him and going to a second dyer； made him the like proposal； but he returned him the same answer as the first； and he ceased not to go from one to another； till he had made the round of the whole forty； but they would not accept of him either to master or journeyman。 Then he repaired to the Syndic of the Dyers and told him what had passed； and he said； 'We admit no stranger into our craft。'
With this Aboukir became exceeding wroth and going up to the king of the city； made plaint to him； saying； 'O king of the age； I am a stranger and a dyer by trade；' and he told him what had passed between himself and the dyers of the town； adding； 'I can dye various kinds of red； such as rosecolour and carnation； （189） and various kinds of green； such as grassgreen and pistachiogreen and olive and parrot's wing； and various kinds of black； such as coalblack and blueblack； and various shades of yellow； such as orange and lemoncolour；' and went on to name to him the rest of the colours。 Then said he； 'O king of the age； there is not a dyer in thy city who can avail to any one of these colours； for they know not how to dye aught but blue； yet will they not admit me amongst them； either as master or journeyman。' 'Thou sayst sooth for that matter；' answered the king； 'but I will open thee a dyery and give thee capital and have thou no care for them； for whoso offereth to do thee hindrance； I will hang him over the door of his shop。
Then he sent for builders and said to them； 'Go round about the city with this master； and whatsoever place pleases him； be it shop or khan or what not； turn out its occupier and build him a dyery after his wish。 Whatsoever he bids you； that do ye and gainsay him not in aught。' And he clad him in a handsome suit and gave him two white slaves； to serve him； and a horse with housings of brocade and a thousand dinars； saying； 'Provide thyself with this； against the building be pleted。' So Aboukir donned the dress and mounting the horse； became as he were an amir。 Moreover the king assigned him a house and bade furnish it； so they furnished it for him and he took up his abode therein。
On the morrow he mounted and rode through the city； looking about him； whilst the architects went before him； till he saw a place that pleased him and said； 'This place is good；' whereupon they turned out the owner thereof and carried him to the king； who gave him； to the price of his holding； what more than contented him。 Then the builders fell to work； whilst Aboukir said to them； 'Build thus and thus and do this and that；' till they built him a dyery that had not its like； whereupon he presented himself before the king and informed him that they had made an end of building the dyery and that there needed but the price of the dyestuffs and gear to set it awork。 Quoth the king； 'Take these four thousand dinars to thy capital and let me see the oute of thy dyery。' So he took the money and went to the market； where； finding dyestuffs （190） plentiful and ＇wellnigh＇ valueless； he bought all that he needed of materials for dyeing； and the king sent him five hundred pieces of stuff； which he proceeded to dye of all colours and spread them before the door of his dyery。
When the folk passed by the shop； they saw this wonderful sight； whose like they had never in their lives seen； so they crowded about the door； staring and questioning the dyer and saying； 'O master； what are tne names of these colours？' Quoth he； 'This is red and that yellow and the other green；' and so on with the rest of the colours。 And they fell to bringing him stuffs and saying to him； 'Dye this for us like this and that and take what thou seekest ＇to thy hire＇。' When he had made an end of dyeing the king's stuffs； he took them and went up with them to the divan； and when the king saw them he rejoiced in them and bestowed abundant largesse on the dyer。 Moreover； all the troops brought him stuffs； saying； 'Dye for us thus and thus；' and he dyed for them to their wish； and they threw him gold and silver。 On this wise his fame spread abroad and his shop was called the Sultan's dyery。 Good came in to him at every door and he became the owner of slaves； male and female； and amassed store of wealth。 None of the other dyers dared say a word to him； but they used to e to him； kissing his hands and excusing themselves to him for the affronts they had done him aforetime and offering themselves to him as journeymen； but he would none of them。
Meanwhile Abousir abode three days； prostrate and unconscious； in the chamber where Aboukir had left him； at the end of which time the doorkeeper of the khan； chancing to look at the chamberdoor； observed that it was shut and bethought himself that he had seen and heard nothing of the two panions ＇for some time＇。 So he said to himself； 'Belike they have made oft； without paying the rent of the chamber； or perhaps they are dead； or what is to do with them？' And he waited till sunset； when he went up to the chamberdoor and heard the barber groaning within。 He saw the key in the lock； so he opened the door and entering； found Abousir lying； groaning； and said to him； 'No harm to thee： where is thy friend？' 'By Allah；' answered Abousir； 'I only came to my senses this day and called out； but none answered me。 God on thee； O my brother； look for the purse under my head and take five paras from it and buy me something to eat； for I am sore anhungred。'
The porter put out his hand and taking the purse； found it empty and said to the barber； 'The purse is empty； there is nothing in it。' Whereupon Abousir knew that the dyer had taken that which was therein and fled and said to the porter； 'Hast thou not seen my friend？' 'I have not seen him these three days；' answered the porter； 'and indeed methought you had departed； thou and he。' 'Not no；' said Ahousir； 'but he coveted my money and seeing me sick； took it and fled。' Then he fell aweeping and lamenting； but the porter said to him； 'No harm shall e to thee； and God his deed。' So saying； he went away and cooked him a mess of broth； whereof he ladled out a platterful and brought it to him； nor did he cease to tend him and maintain him with his own monies for two months' space； at the end of which time he sweated and God made him whole of his sickness。 Then he stood up and said to the porter； 'So God the Most High enable me； I will surely requite thee t