So he went awayand I passed the night in sore concernbecause of his return to me. Sleep visited me not nor could I close my eyes： so I rose and bade the boy saddle me the mule. 'O my lord，'answered he'it is yet but the first watch of the night.' So I returned to bedbut sleep was forbidden to me and I ceased not to awaken the boy and he to put me offtill break of daywhen he saddled me the muleand I mounted and rode outnot knowing whither to go. I threw the reins on the mule's shoulders and gave myself up to anxiety and melancholy thoughtwhilst she fared on with me to the eastward of Baghdad. Presentlyas I went alongI saw a number of people in front and turned aside into another path to avoid them；but theyseeing that I wore a professor's hoodfollowed me and hastening up to mesaid，'Knowest thou the lodging of Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi？'I am he，'answered I；and they rejoined'The Commander of the Faithful calls for thee.' Then they carried me before El Mamounwho said to me'Who art thou？' Quoth I'I am a professor of the law and traditionsand one of the associates of the Cadi Abou Yousuf.'How art thou called？' asked the Khalif. 'Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi，' answered Iand he said'Expound to me thy case.'
So I told him how it was with me and he wept sore and said to me'Out on thee！ The Apostle of God（whom may He bless and preserve）would not let me sleep this nightbecause of thee；for he appeared to me in my first sleep and said to me，'Succour Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi.' Whereupon I awoke and knowing thee notwent to sleep again；but he came to me a second time and said to me'Woe to thee！ Succour Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi.' I awoke a second timebut knew thee notso went to sleep again；and he came to me a third time and still I knew thee not and went to sleep again. Then he came to me once more and said，'Out on thee！ Succour Abou Hassan ez Ziyadi！' After that I dared not go to sleep againbut watched the rest of the night and aroused my people and sent them in all directions in quest of thee.' Then he gave me ten thousand dirhemssaying'This is for the Khorassani，' and other ten thousandsaying'Spend freely of this and amend thy case therewithand set thine affairs in order.' Moreoverhe gave me yet thirty thousand dirhemssaying'Furnish thyself with thisand when the day of estate comes roundcome thou to methat I may invest thee with an office.'