I trow 'twere better for a man that he should die than live Still in humiliation's house； 'twixt envier and spy。
Then they agreed to travel together and Aboukir said to Abousir； 'O my neighbour； we are bee brethren and there is no difference between us； so it behoves us to recite the first chapter of the Koran ＇in token of agreement＇ that he of us who gets work shall of his profit feed him who is out of work； and whatever is left； we will lay in a chest； and when we e back to Alexandria we will divide it fairly and equally。' 'So be it；' answered Abousir； and they repeated the first chapter of the Koran on this understanding。 Then Ahousir locked up his shop and gave the keys to the landlord； whilst Aboukir left his shop locked and sealed and let the key lie with the Cadi's serjeant； after which they took their gear and embarked on the morrow in a galleon upon the salt sea。 They set sail the same day and fortune attended them； for； of Abousir's great good luck； of all that were in the ship （and there were therein an hundred and twenty men； besides the captain and the crew；） there was not a single barber。 So； when they spread the sails； the barber said to the dyer； 'O my brother； this is the sea and we shall need meat and drink； and we have but little victual with us and it may be the voyage will be long upon us； wherefore methinks I will shoulder my gear and pass among the passengers； and belike some one will say to me； 〃e hither； O barber； and shave me；〃 and I will shave him for a cake of bread or a para or a draught of water： so shall we both profit by this。'
'There is no harm in that；' replied the dyer and laid down his head and slept； whilst the barber took his razor and shavingtackle and throwing over his shoulder a rag； to serve as napkin （for that he was poor）； passed among the passengers。 Quoth one of them； 'Ho； master； e and shave me。' So he shaved him； and the man gave him a para。 'O my brother；' said Ahousir； 'I have no use for this para； hadst thou given me a cake of bread； it were more blessed to me in this sea； for I have a shipmate and we are short of victual。' So he gave him a cake of bread and a piece of cheese and filled him the basin with sweet water。 The barber carried all this to Aboukir and bade him eat the bread and cheese and drink the water。 So he ate and drank； whilst Abousir again took up his shavinggear and went round about the deck among the passengers。 One man he shaved for two cakes of bread and another for a piece of cheese； and he was in demand； because there was no other barber on board。 So he bargained with every one who said to him； 'Ho； master； shave me！' for two cakes of bread and a para； and they gave him whatever he sought； so that； by sundown； he had gotten thirty cakes of bread and thirty paras； besides store of cheese and olives and botargoes。
Amongst the rest he shaved the captain； to whom he plained of his lack of victual for the voyage； and the captain said to him； 'Have no care for that； so long as ye sail with us； for thou art wele to bring thy rade every night and sup with me。' Then he returned to the dyer； whom he found still asleep； so he aroused him； and when Aboukir awoke； he found at his head bread and cheese and olives and botargoes galore and said； 'Whence gottest thou all this？' 'From the bounty of God the Most High；' replied Abousir。 Then Aboukir would have eaten； but the barber said to him； 'Eat not of this； O my brother； but leave it to serve us another time； for know that I shaved the captain and plained to him of our lack of victual： whereupon quoth he； 〃Bring thy rade and sup both of ye with me every night and wele。 And this night we sup with him for the first time。' But Aboukir replied； 'I am seasick and cannot rise from my place； so let me sup off these things and go thou alone to the captain。' 'So be it；' said Abousir and sat looking at the other； as he ate； and saw him hew off gobbets； as the quarryman hews stone from the mountain； and gulp them down with the gulp of an elephant that has not eaten for days； bolting one mouthful before he was rid of the previous one and glaring the while at that which was before him with the glower of a ghoul and blowing as the hungry bull blows over his beans and straw。
Presently up came a sailor and said to the barber； 'O master； the captain bids thee e to supper and bring thy rade。' Quoth the barber to the dyer； 'Wilt thou e with us？' But he answered； 'I cannot walk。' So the barber went by himself and found the captain and his pany sitting awaiting him； with a tray before them； wherein were a score or more of dishes。 When the captain saw him； he said； 'Where is thy friend？' And Abousir answered； 'O my lord； he is seasick。' 'That will do him no harm；' answered the captain； 'his sickness will pass off； but do thou carry him his supper and e back； for we await thee。' Then he set apart a dish of kabobs and putting therein some of each dish； till there was enough for ten； gave it to Abousir； who took it and carried it to the dyer； whom he found grinding away with his dogteeth at that which was before him； as he were a camel； and heaping mouthful on mouthful in his haste。 Quoth Abousir； 'Did I not say to thee； 〃Eat not ＇of this＇？〃 Indeed the captain is a man of exceeding kindness。 See what he hath sent thee； for that I told him thou wast sick。' 'Give it here；' answered the dyer。 So the barber gave it to him and he snatched it from him and fell upon it； like a ravening dog or a raging lion or a roc pouncing on a pigeon or one who is wellnigh dead for hunger and seeing victual； falls to eating thereof。
Then Abousir left him and going back to the captain； supped and enjoyed himself and drank coffee with him； after which he returned to Aboukir and found that he had eaten all that was in the platter and thrown it aside； empty。 So he took the empty dish and gave it to one of the captain's servants； then went back to Aboukir and slept till the morning。 On the morrow he continued to shave； and all he got by way of meat and drink he gave to Aboukir； who ate and drank and sat still； rising not save to do his natural occasions； and every night the barber brought him a full dish from the captain's table。
They fared thus twenty days； at the end of which time the galleon cast anchor in the harbour of a city； whereupon they took leave of the captain and landing； entered the town and took them a lodging in a khan。 Abousir furnished the room and buying a cooking pot and a platter and spoons and what else they needed； fetched meat and cooked it； but Aboukir fell asleep the moment he entered the khan and awoke not till his panion aroused him and set the tray of food before him。 When he awoke； he ate and saying to Abousir； 'Blame me not； for I am giddy；' fell asleep again。 Thus he did forty days； whilst； every day； the barber took his tools and making the round of the city； wrought for that which fell to his lot； and returning； found the dyer asleep and aroused him。 No sooner did he wake than he fell ravenously upon the food； eating as one who cannot have his fill nor be content； after which he went to sleep again。
On this wise he passed other forty days； and whenever the barber said to him； 'Sit up and shake off this torpor and go forth and take an airing in the city； for it is a bright and pleasant place and hath not its equal among the cities；' he would answer； saying； 'Blame me not； for I am ＇still＇ giddy。' Abousir cared not to vex him nor give him hard words； but； on the fortyfirst day； he himself fell sick and could not go abroad； so he pressed the porter of the khan into his service； and he did their occasions and brought them meat and drink four days； whilst Aboukir did nothing but eat and sleep。 At the end of this time； the barber's sickness redoubled on him； till he lost his senses for stress thereof； and Aboukir； feeling the pangs of hunger； arose and sought in his rade's clothes； where he found a thousand paras。 So he took them and shutting the door of the chamber upon Abousir； went out； without telling any； and the doorkeeper of the inn was then at market and thus saw him not go out。
Aboukir betook himself to the bazaar and clad himself in rich apparel； at a cost of five hundred paras； then he proceeded to walk about and divert himself by viewing the place； which he found a city whose like was not among cities； but he noted that all its people were clad in clothes of white and blue； without other colour。 Presently he came to a dyer's and seeing nought but blue in his shop； pulled out to him a kerchief and said； 'O master； take this kerchief and dye it and take thy hire。' Quoth the dyer； 'The cost of dying this will be twenty dirhems。' 'In our country；' said Aboukir； 'we dye it for two。' 'Then go and dye it in your own country；' answered the dyer。 'As for me； my price is twenty dirhems and I will not bate a tittle thereof。' 'What colour wilt thou dye it？' asked Aboukir； and the dyer said； 'I will dye it blue。' Quoth Aboukir； 'But I want it dyed red。' 'I know not how to dye red；' answered the dyer。 'Then dye it green；' rejoined Aboukir。 But the dyer said； 'I know not how to dye green。' 'Yellow；' said Aboukir。 'Nor yet yellow；' answered the dyer； and Aboukir went on to name the different colours to him； one after another； till the dyer said； 'We are here in this city forty masterdyers； neither more nor less； and when one of us dies； we teach his son the craft。 If he leave no son； we abide wanting one； and if he leave two sons； we teach one of them the craft； and if he die； we teach his brother。 This our craft is straitly ordered and we know not how to dye aught but blue。'
Then said Aboukir； 'Know that I also am a dyer and know how to dye all colours； and I would have thee take me into thy service on hire； and I will teach thee my art； so thou mayst glory therein over all the pany of dyers。' But the dyer answered； 'We never admit a stranger into our craft。' 'And what if I open a dyery for myself？' asked Aboukir。 'We will not suffer thee to do that；' replied the other； whereupon he left him and going to a second dyer； made him the like proposal； but he returned him the same answer as the first； and he ceased not to go from one to another； till he had made the round of the whole forty； but they would not accept of him either to master