Abon Hassan

A rich merchant, transferred during sleep to the bed and palace of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid. Next morning he was treated as the caliph, and every effort was made to make him forget his identity. Arabian Nights (“The Sleeper Awakened”). The same trick was played on Christopher Sly, in the Induction of Shakespeare’s comedy of Taming of the Shrew; and, according to Burton (Anatomy of Melancholy, ii. 2, 4), by Philippe the Good, Duke of Burgundy, on his marriage with Eleonoʹra.

“Were I caliph for a day, as honest Abon Hassan, I would scourge me these jugglers out of the Commonwealth.”—Sir Walter Scott.

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.