COCK OF THE WALK.
The Caliph Haroun Alraschid was seated in his divan with bis midama, or equerries, around him, intent upon an evening's amusement. Abu Nawwas, the poet, however, had not arrived, and the Caliph devised a clever plan for punishing him for being late. Be arranged a game at forfeits, in which the rule was to be that every one who did exactly as he did should receive a dinah— about half a sovereign ; hut any one who failed to keep up the game was to receive a dozen strokes of the bastinado. Haroun then ordered in some eggs, and putting one under his own cushion, commanded his followers to do the same ; and they had scarcely completed their preparations when the missing poet came in. The Caliph began the game, and having proposed to Abu Nawwas to join, began clucking like a hen, and produced an egg. Each of the courtiers did the same, and it came at last to Abu Nawwaa's turn. With all eyes fixed on him with a wicked stare he stalked into the middle of the room, flapped his arms against his side;', and crowed loudly ' Cock-a-doodle-doo!'to indicate that he alone wu. cock of the walk. —The New Plutarch.
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Bibliographic details
Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3193, 22 September 1881, Page 4
Word Count
206COCK OF THE WALK. Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3193, 22 September 1881, Page 4
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