One day, as al-Rashid was returning from a war-like expedition, Buhlul entered his tent and found the Khalifah parched with thirst and calling for water. The jester hastened to fetch a cup of water and gave it to him, saying: “O Commander of the Faithful, before you drink pray tell me how much you would have given for this cup of water if it had been difficult to procure?” “I would have given half my kingdom,” answered al-Rashid as he drank. “And now that you have drunk,” went on Buhlul, “supposing this cup of water refused to leave your body, owing to some retention on the part of your honorable bladder, what would you pay to see it safely forth?” “Surely half of my kingdom,” answered al-Rashid. Then said Buhlul: “I suppose, my lord, that an empire which could be bought for a cup of water and a jet of piss is worth these cares and bloody wars? …” Al-Rashid wept.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol. III, London and New York: Routledge, 1964, p. 514.