Damsel.

The just King, Kisra Anushirwan, one day rode forth to the chase and, in pursuit of a deer, became separated from his suite. Presently, he caught sight of a hamlet near hand and being sore athirst, he made for it and presenting himself at the door of a house that lay by the wayside, asked for a draught of water. So a damsel came out and looked at him; then, going back into the house, pressed the juice from a single sugar cane into a bowl and mixed it with water; after which she strewed on the top some scented stuff, as it were dust, and carried it to the King. There upon he seeing in it what resembled dust, drank it, little by little, till he came to the end; when he said to her, "O damsel, the drink is good, and how sweet it had been but for this dust in it that troubls it." Answered she, "O guest, I put in that powder for a purpose;" and he asked, "And why did you thus?"; so she replied, "I saw you exceeding thirsty and feared that you would drain the whole at one draught and that this would do you mischief; and but for this dust that troubled the drink so had you done."

The Just King wondered at her words, knowing that they came of her wit and good sense, and said to her, "From how many sugar canes did you express this draught?" "One," answered she; at which Anushirwan marvelled and, calling for the register of the village taxes, saw that its assessment was but little and bethought him to increase it, on his return to his palace, saying in himself, "A village where they get this much juice out of one sugar cane, why is it so lightly taxed?" He then left the village and pursued his chase; and, as he came back at the end of the day, he passed alone by the same door and called again for drink; whereupon the same damsel came out and, knowing him at a look, went in to fetch him water. It was some time before she returned and Anushirwan wondered at that and said to her, "Why have you tarried?"—

When it was the Three Hundred and Nineties night

she answered, "Because a single sugar cane gave not enough for your need; so I pressed three; but they yielded not so much as did one before." Rejoined he, "What is the cause of that?"; and she replied, "The cause of it is that when the Sultan's mind is changed against a folk, their prosperity ceases and their good waxes less." So Anushirwan laughed and dismissed from his mind that which he had purposed against the villagers. Moreover, he took the damsel to wife then and there being pleased with her much wit and acuteness and the excellence of her speech. And they tell another tale of the Water-Carrier and the Goldsmith's Wife. 89