answered the host，and studied to do them honour；so the twain abode with him the rest of their night and as soon as the daylight dawned，they left him and made their way back without aught of delay to the city. When they came to the house of Abu alHasan，he conjured his comrade to enter；so they went in and lying down on the bed，slept awhile. As soon as they awoke，Abu alHasan bade his servants spread the house with rich carpets，saying in his mind，'Needs must I divert this youth and distract him from thinking of his affliction，for I know his case better than another.'Then he called for water for Ali bin Bakkar who，when it was brought，rose up from his bed and making his ablutions，prayed the obligatory prayers which he had omitted for the past day and night[194]；after which he sat down and began to solace himself by talking with his friend. When Abu alHasan saw this，he turned to him and said，'O my lord，it were fitter for thy case that thou abide with me this night，so thy breast may be broadened and the distress of lovelonging that is upon thee be dispelled and thou make merry with us，so haply the fire of thy heart may thus be quenched.'Ali replied，'O my brother，do what seemeth good to thee；for I may not on any wise escape from what calamity hath befallen me；so act as thou wilt.'
Accordingly，Abu alHasan arose and bade his servants summon some of the choicest of his friends and sent for singers and musicians who came；and meanwhile he made ready meat and drink for them；so they sat eating and drinking and making merry through the rest of the day till nightfall. Then they lit the candles，and the cups of friendship and good fellowship went round amongst them and the time passed pleasantly with them. Presently，a singingwoman took the lute and began singing，'I've been shot by Fortune，and shaft of eye Down struck me and parted from fondest friend：
Time has proved him foe and my patience failed，Yet I ever expected it thus would end.'