Opening, part 21 · page 21 2101Never shall it be said that I have abandoned you, and I am sure that you, on your part, will never abandon me."102"My lord," answered my brother, "I swear that I have not broken my fast this whole day."103"What, you are dying of hunger?" exclaimed the Barmecide. "104Here, slave; bring water, that we may wash our hands before meat!"105No slave appeared, but my brother remarked that the Barmecide did not fail to rub his hands as if the water had been poured over them.106Then he said to my brother, "Why don't you wash your hands too?" and Schacabac, supposing that it was a joke on the part of the Barmecide (though he could see none himself), drew near, and imitated his motion.107When the Barmecide had done rubbing his hands, he raised his voice, and cried, "Set food before us at once, we are very hungry."108No food was brought, but the Barmecide pretended to help himself from a dish, and carry a morsel to his mouth, saying as he did so, "Eat, my friend, eat, I entreat.109Help yourself as freely as if you were at home!110For a starving man, you seem to have a very small appetite."1 2← previousOpening, part 20next →Opening, part 22↑ back to The Arabian Nights EntertainmentsThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/21/page/2/