As for Alihe was giddy with wine and went inin this plight，to his wifewho said to him'What ails thee？'Quoth he'We were making merry to-daywhen one of my companions brought us liquor；so my friends drank and I with themand this giddiness came upon me.'O my lord，'said she'hast thou forgotten thy fathers injunction and done that from which he forbade theein consorting with lewd folk？'These are of the sons of the merchants，'answered he；'they are no lewd folkonly lovers of mirth and good cheer.'And he continued to lead this life with his friendsday after daygoing from place to place and feasting and drinking with themtill they said to him'Our turns are endedand now it is thy turn.'Welcome and fair welcome！'answered he；soon the morrowhe made ready all that the case called for of meat and drinkdouble what they had providedand taking cooks and tent-pitchers and coffee-makersrepaired with the others to Er Rauzeh and the Nilometerwhere they abode a whole montheating and drinking and hearing music and making merry. At the end of the monthAli found that he had spent a great sum of money；but Satan the Accursed deluded him and said to him'Though thou shouldst spend every day a like sumyet would not thy wealth fail.'So he took no account of expense and continued this way of life three yearswhilst his wife remonstrated with him and reminded him of his father's injunctions；but he hearkened not to hertill he had spent all his ready moneywhen he fell to selling his jewels and spending their pricetill they were all gone. Then he sold his houses and lands and farms and gardens，one after anothertill they were all gone and he had nothing left but the house in which he lived. So he tore out the marble and wood-work and sold it and spent of its pricetill he had made an end of this alsowhen he bethought himself and finding that he had nothing left to spendsold the house itself and spent the purchase-money.
Presentlythe man who had bought the house came to him and said'Look thyself out a lodgingfor I have need of my house.'So he bethought himself and considering that he had nothing requiring a houseexcept his wifewho had borne him a son and daughter，--for he had not a servant left，--hired a room in one of the mean lodging houses and there took up his abode，after having lived in honour and luxurywith many servants and much wealthand came to lack of one day's bread. Quoth his wife'I warned thee of this and exhorted thee to obey thy father's injunctionand thou wouldst not hearken to me；but there is no power and no virtue save in God the Most Highthe Supreme！ Whence shall the little ones eat？ Arisego round to thy friendsthe sons of the merchants： it may be they will give thee somewhat on which we may live this day.'So he went the round of his friendsone by one；but they all hid their faces from him and gave him nothing but injurious and revolting words；and he returned to his wife and said to her'They have given me nothing.'Thereupon she went out to beg of her neighbours wherewithal to sustain themselves and came to a womanwhom she had known in former days. When she came in to her and she saw her plightshe rose and receiving her kindly，wept and said'What hath befallen thee？'So she told her of her husband's conductand the other said'Welcome and fair welcome！ Whatever thou needestseek it of mewithout price.'
'May God abundantly requite thee！'answered she. Then her friend gave her as much victual as would suffice herself and her family a whole monthand she took it and returned to her lodging. When her husband saw herhe wept and said'Whence hadst thou that？'I got it of such a woman，'answered she；'forwhen I told her what had befallen usshe failed me not in aughtbut said'Seek of me all thou needest.''Since thou hast this，'rejoined her husband'I will betake myself to a place I have in my mind；peradventure God the Most High will bring us relief.'
So sayinghe took leave of her and kissing the childrenwent outnot knowing whither he should goand walked on till he came to Boulacwhere he saw a ship about to sail for Damietta. Here he met a manbetween whom and his father there had been friendship；and he saluted him and said to him，'Whither away？'To Damietta，'replied Ali；'I have friends therewhom I would fain enquire after and visit and return.'
The man took him home and entreated him hospitablythen，furnishing him with victual [for the voyage] and giving him somewhat of moneyembarked him on board the vessel bound for Damietta. When they reached that placeAli landednot knowing where to gobutas he was walking alonga merchant saw him and had pity on him. So he carried him to his housewhere he abode awhiletill he said in himself'How long shall this sojourning in other folks'houses last？'Then he left the merchant's house and went down to the quaywhere he saw a ship ready to sail for Syria. His host provided him with victual and embarked him in the ship；and it set sail and arrivedin due courseat the coast of Syriawhere he landed and journeyed till he entered Damascus. As he walked about the towna benevolent man saw him and took him to his housewhere he abode awhiletillone daygoing abroadhe saw a caravan about to start for Baghdad and bethought himself to journey thither with it. So he returned to his host and taking leave of himset out with the caravan.
