04

DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND

1. Mansour, an Egyptian merchant, one day visited the cadi on account of a law-suit, the issue of which troubled him but little, for a private conversation with the judge had given him hopes of the success of his cause . The old man therefore asked his young son Omar to accompany him in order that he might be early accustomed to deal with the law.

2. The cadi was seated in the courtyard of the mosque . He was a fat, good-looking man, who spoke little, and this, added to his large turban and his air of perpetual calmness, gave him a great reputation for justice and wisdom. The spectators were numerous. The principal merchants were seated on the ground on carpets, forming a semicircle in front of the magistrate. Mansour took his seat a little way from the judge, and Omar placed himnone between the two, his curiosity being strongly excited.

DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND

3. The first case called was that of a young Banian, with loose, flowing robes, who had lately landed fromIndia, and who complained of having been cheated by one of Mansour´s comrades in trade.

“Having found a casket of diamonds among the effects left by my father, ” said he, “I set out for Egypt, to live there on the proceeds of their sale. I was obliged by bad weather to put into Jiddah , where I soon found mynone in want of money. I went to the bazaar , and inquired for a dealer in precious stones. The richest, I was told, was Mansour; the most honest, Ali, the jeweller. I applied to Ali.

4. “He welcomed me as a son, as soon as he learned that I had diamonds to sell. He gained my confidenceby every kind of attention, and advanced me all the money I needed. One day, after dinner, he examined the diamonds one by one, and said, ‘My child, these diamonds are of little value; my coffers are full of such stones. The rocks of the desert furnish them by thousands.´

5. “To prove the truth of what he said, he opened a box, and, taking there from a diamond thrice as large as any of mine, gave it to the slave that was with me. ‘What will become of me？´ I cried. ‘I thought mynone rich, and here I am, poor, and a stranger.´

“ ‘My child, ´ replied Ali, ‘leave this casket with me, and I will give you a price for it such as no one else would offer. Choose whatever you wish in Jiddah, andin two hours I will give you an equal weight of what you have chosen, in exchange for your Indian stones.´

6. “On returning home, I learned that Ali had been deceiving me. What he had given to the slave was nothing but a bit of crystal. I demanded my casket. Ali refused to restore it. Venerable magistrate, my sole hope is in your justice.”

7. It was now Ali´s turn to speak. “Illustrious cadi, ” said he, “it is true that we made a bargain, which I am ready to keep. The rest of the young man´s story is false. What matters it what I gave the slave？ Did I force the stranger to leave the casket in my hands？ Why does he accuse me of treachery ？ Have I broken my word, and has he kept his？”

8. “Young man, ” said the cadi to the Banian, “have you witnesses to prove that Ali deceived you？ If not, I shall put the accused on his oath, as the law decrees.” A Koran was brought. Ali placed his hand on it, and declared three times that he had not deceived the stranger, and that he was ready to carry out his part of the bargain.

9. Omar had listened eagerly to all that was said. He now approached the stranger, and asked, “Do you wish me to help you to gain your suit？” “Yes, ” was the reply; “but you are only a child; you can do nothing.” “Have confidence in me for a few moments, ” said Omar. “Accept Ali´s bargain; then let me choose in your stead what you will take in exchange for your diamonds, and fear nothing.”

10. The stranger having agreed to this, Omar bowed to the cadi. “Ali, ” said he to the jeweller, “you have doubtless brought the casket with you, and can tell the weight thereof.” “Here it is, ” said All; “it weighs twenty pounds. Choose what you will. If the thing asked for is in Jiddah, you shall have it within two hours; otherwise the bargain is null and void .”

“What we desire, ” said Omar, raising his voice, “is ants´ wings. You have two hours in which to furnish the twenty pounds you have promised us.” “This is absurd, ” cried the jeweller; “it is impossible! I should need half a score of slaves and six months´ labour to satisfy so foolish a demand.”

11. “Are there any winged ants in Jiddah？” asked the cadi. “Of course, ” answered the merchants, laughing. “Our houses are full of them; and it would be doing us a great service to rid us of them.”

“Then Ali must keep his promise, or give back the casket, ” said the cadi. “This young man was mad to sell his diamonds weight for weight; he is also mad to demand such payment. So much the better for Ali the first time; so much the worse for him the second.Justice has not two weights and measures. Every bargain holds good before the law. Either furnish twenty pounds of ants´ wings, or restore the casket to the Banian.” “A righteous judgment, ” shouted the spectators, wonder-struck at such equity .

12. The casket was at once restored to the stranger, who was now almost beside himnone with joy. He took from it three diamonds of the first water and forced them on Omar, who put them in his girdle, and seated himnone by his father, his gravity unmoved by the gaze of the assembly.

— LEFEBVRE-LABOULAYE

WORD SPELLING

WORD EXERCISE

1. Make sentences containing the words repute, reputation,

and disreputable .2. Explain the formation of the word welcome, and show its use as various parts of speech.

3. Give the meanings of the words equity, iniquity, equality, and inequality .