A Certain King had heaped up coin beyond count and gathered store of all precious things, which Allah the Most Highest has created. So, in order that he might take his pleasure whenas he should find leisure to enjoy all this abounding wealth he had collected, he built him a palace wide and lofty such as befits and beseems Kings; and set thereto strong doors and appointed, for its service and its guard, servants and soldiers and doorkeepers to watch and ward. One day, he bade the cooks dress him something of the goodliest of food and assembled his household and retainers and boon companions and servants to eat with him, and partake of his bounty. Then he sat down upon the sofa of his kingship and dominion; and, propping his elbow upon the cushion, addressed himself saying,
The Angel of Death and the Rich King. 249
"O soul, you have gathered together all the wealth of the world; so now take your leisure within it and eat of this good at yours ease in long life and prosperity ever rife!"—
When it was the Four Hundred and Sixty third night
when a man clad in tattered raiment, with an asker's wallet hanging at his neck, as he were one who came to beg food, knocked with the door ring a knock so loud and terrible that the whole palace shook as with quake of earth and the King's throne trembled. The servants were affrighted and rushed to the door, and when they saw the man who had knocked they cried out at him, saying, "Woe to you! What manner of unmannerly fashion be this? Wait till the King eats and we will then give you of what is left." He said, "Tell your lord to come out and speak with me, for I have of him a pressing need and a matter to heed." They cried, "Away, fool! Who are you that we should bid our lord come forth to you?" But he said, "Tell him of this." So they went in and told the King, who said, "Did you not rebuke him and draw upon him and threaten him!" Now as he spoke, behold, there came another knock at the gate, louder than the first knock, whereupon the servants sprang at the stranger with staves and weapons, to fall upon him and slay him; but he shouted at them, saying, "Bide in your steads, for I am the Angel of Death." at this their hearts quaked and their wits forsook them; their understandings were in confusion, their side muscles quivered in perturbation and their limbs lost the power of motion. Then said the King to them, "Tell him to take a substitute in my place and one to relieve me in this case." But the Angel answered, saying, "I will take no substitute, and I come not but on yours account, to cause separation between you and the goods you have gathered together and the riches you have heaped up and entreasured."
When the King heard this, he wept and groaned, saying, "Allah curse the treasure which has deluded and undone me and diverted me from the service of my Lord! I deemed it would profit me, but to day it is a regret for me and a calamity to me, and behold, I go forth, empty handed of it, and leave it to my foes." Thereupon Allah caused the Treasure to speak out and it said, "Why cursest you me? Curse yourself, for Allah created both me and eke yourself of the dust and appointed me to be in yours hand, that you might provide you with me a viaticum for the next world and give alms with me to the poor and the needy and the sick; and build mosques and hospices and bridges and aqueducts, so might I be an aidance unto you in the world to come. But you did garner me and hoard me up and on yours own vanities bestowedst me, neither gave you thanks for me, as was due, but were ungrateful to me; and now you must leave me to your foes and you have nothing save your regretting and your repenting. But what is my sin, that you should revile me?" Then the Angel of Death took the King's soul as he sat on his throne before he ate of the food, and he fell down dead. Allah Almighty, said, "While they were rejoicing for that which had been given them, we suddenly laid hold on them; and, behold, they were seized with despair." And they tell another tale of