human
Know, O ye people, that I, Harun-er-Rashid, of the house of Abbas, do not forget my promises. I promised Three Royal Calenders that I would restore them to their thrones, and, by Allah! this shall be done. Three beautiful ladies of Baghdad promised me that they would come into my Seraglio, which thou didst witness, O Ja'far; and thou, too, O Mesrur. The two officials bowed low, confirming this.
gpt
But, continued the Khalifeh,
human
I have since decided to make them queens by bestowing them in marriage upon these three kings. And he indicated the Calenders. Then, turning towards the porter, he continued:
gpt
I also promised that a carrier of goods,--a merry fellow,--should be my Wag. This shall be, and his first duty will be to solve this riddle. Which is easier: for the Khalifeh to play the merchant, or the merchant to play the Khalifeh? Meanwhile, do you all agree to what I have proposed?
human
O King of the Age, said one of the ladies,
gpt
I answer for my sisters and myself. We will obey thy commands willingly and with joy. Then one of the Calenders added,
human
O Prince of the Faithful, we also hear and obey, with equal willingness and equal joy.
gpt
And as for me, O King, said the porter,
human
I, being a wag, and also a liar of some excellence, knew that indeed thou wert the Khalifeh of the Lord of All Creatures, but I was compelled to dissemble for fear of thine Executioner's sword. Thus I solve thy riddle, O King: The Khalifeh played better than the merchant, whose play was equally good. The Khalifeh smiled and, turning to Ja'far, said,
gpt
O Vizier, bestow upon him the Robe of the Wag.