At the end of that time he
appeared again before the treasurer. "One thing more is necessary,"
said he, "one trifling solace for the intervals of mental labor."
"O wise Ibrahim, I am bound to furnish every thing necessary for thy
solitude; what more dost thou require?"
"I would fain have a few dancing women."
"Dancing women!" echoed the treasurer, with surprise.
"Dancing women," replied the sage, gravely; "and let them be young
and fair to look upon; for the sight of youth and beauty is
refreshing. A few will suffice, for I am a philosopher of simple
habits and easily satisfied."
While the philosophic Ibrahim Ebn Abu Ayub passed his time thus
sagely in his hermitage, the pacific Aben Habuz carried on furious
campaigns in effigy in his tower. It was a glorious thing for an old
man, like himself, of quiet habits, to have war made easy, and to be
enabled to amuse himself in his chamber by brushing away whole
armies like so many swarms of flies.
For a time he rioted in the indulgence of his humors, and even
taunted and insulted his neighbors, to induce them to make incursions;
but by degrees they grew wary from repeated disasters, until no one
ventured to invade his territories. For many months the bronze
horseman remained on the peace establishment with his lance elevated
in the air, and the worthy old monarch began to repine at the want
of his accustomed sport, and to grow peevish at his monotonous
tranquillity.
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