ssed herself entirely unable to set any
one of Ashimullah's wives above any other in any point of beauty. "For
they are all," said she, "and each in her own way, houris for beauty."

"And this man was a Christian dog once!" murmured the Sultan. Then his
brow suddenly grew smooth, and he observed:

"Ashimullah himself will know; and, indeed, it is time that I gave a
new sign of my favor to my trusted servant Ashimullah."

Therefore he sent for Ashimullah, and spoke to him with unbounded
graciousness.

"Ashimullah, my faithful servant," said he, "I am mindful to confer
upon you a great and signal favor; desiring to recognize not only your
services to my throne, but also and more especially your ready and
willing obedience in the matter of your wives. Therefore I have decided
to exalt you and your household in the eyes of all the Faithful, and of
the whole world, by taking from your house a wife for myself."

When Ashimullah heard this he went very pale, although, in truth, what
the Sultan proposed to do was always held the highest of honors.

"And since so good and loyal a servant," pursued the Sultan, "would
desire to offer to his Sovereign nothing but the best of all that he
has, tell me, O Ashimullah, which of your wives is fairest, that I may
take her and exalt her as I have proposed."

Ashimullah was now in great agitation, and he stammered in his
confusion:

"My wives are indeed fair; but, O Most Potent and Fearful Majesty, they
have, one and all, most diabolical tempers."

"Surely by now I have learned how to deal with the tempers of women,"
said the Sultan, raising his brows. "Come, Ashimullah; tell me which
is fairest."

Then Ashimullah, being at his wits' end, and catching at any straw in
order to secure a little delay, declared that it was utterly impossible
to say that any one of his wives was fairer than any other, for they
were all perfectly beautiful.

"But describe them to me, one by one," commanded the Sultan.

So Ashimullah described his wives one by one to the Sultan, using most
exalted eloquence, and employing every simile, metaphor, image, figure,
and trope that language contains, in the vain attempt to express
adequately the surpassing beauty of those ladies; yet he was most
careful to set no one above any other and to distribute the said
similes, metaphors, images, figures, and tropes, with absolute
impartiality and equality among them.

"By Allah, it is difficult!" said the Sultan