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Show Imaginary Feast The expression "Barmecide's Feast," meaning an imaginary banquet, originates origi-nates from a story in the "Arabian Nights" entertainment of a rich Barmecide, Bar-mecide, to whom a poor man, Sliaca-bac, Sliaca-bac, applied for charity, saying he was starving. The Barmecide invited the poor man to dinner and, calling for rich foods and rare wines, although none was actually provided, described each in detail as he urged his guest to fall to and enjoy himself. Sliacabac entered into the spirit of make-believe and expressed his enjoyment of Uie imaginary feast. By so doing he won the favor of the rich man, who (hereupon (here-upon provided him with real food and later gave him a responsible post in i his household. |