In a certain place there was a piece of water, in which dwelt a number of Fishes, and it befell that the pond dwindled away and shrank and wasted, till there remained barely enough to suffice them and they were almost death and said, "What will become of us? How shall we contrive and of whom shall we seek counsel for our deliverance?" Thereupon arose one of them, who was the chiefest in wit and age, and cried, "There is nothing will serve us save that we seek salvation of Allah; but let us consult the Crab and ask his advice: so come you all and hie we himwards and hear his advice for indeed he is the chiefest and wisest of us all in coming upon the truth." Each and every approved of the Fish's advice and betook themselves in a body to the Crab, whom they found squatted in his hole without news or knowledge of their strait. So they saluted him with the salam and said, "O our lord does not our affair concern you, who art ruler and the head of us?" The Crab returned their salutation, replying, "And on you be The Peace! What ails you and what d'you want?"

So they told him their case and the strait in which they were by reason of the wastage of the water, and that, when it should be dried up, destruction would happen them, adding, "Why we come to you, expecting your counsel and what may bring us deliverance, for you are the chiefest and the most experienced of us." The Crab bowed his head awhile and said, "Doubtless you lack understanding, in that you despair of the mercy of Allah Almighty and His care for the provision of His creatures one and all. Know you not that Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) provides all His creatures without account and that He fore ordained their daily meat before He created anything of creation and appointed to each of His creatures a fixed term of life and an allotted provision, of His divine All might? How then shall we burthen ourselves with concern for a thing which in His secret purpose is indite? Why it is my advice that you can do nothing better than to seek aid of Allah Almighty, and it behoves each of us to clear his conscience with his Lord, both in public and private, and pray Him to succour us and deliver us from our difficulties; for Allah the Most High disappoints not the expectation of those who put their trust in Him and rejects not the supplications of those who prefer their suit to Him. When we have mended our ways, our affairs will be set up and all will be well with us, and when the winter comes and our land is deluged, by means of a just one's prayer, He will not cast down the good He has built up. So 'tis my counsel that we take patience and await what Allah shall do with us.

The Fishes And The Crab. 45

An death come to us, as is wont, we shall be at rest, and if there befall us anything that calls for flight, we will flee and depart our land where Allah will." Answered all the fishes with one voice "You sayst truth, O our lord: Allah requite you for us with weal!" Then each returned to his stead, and in a few days the Almighty vouchsafed unto them a violent rain and the place of the pond was filled fuller than before. "On like wise, O King," continued Shimas, "we despaired of a child being born to you, and now that God has blessed us and you with this well omened son, we implore Him to render him blessed indeed and make him the coolth of yours eyes and a worthy successor to you and grant us of him the like of that which He has granted us of you; for Almighty Allah disappoints not those that seek Him and it behoves none to cut off hope of the mercy of his God." Then, rose the second Wazir and saluting the King with the salam spoke, after his greeting was returned, as follows: "truly, a King is not called a King save he give presents and do justice and rule with equity and show munificence and wisely govern his subjects, maintaining the obligatory laws and apostolic usages established among them and justifying them, one against other, and sparing their blood and warding off hurt from them; and of his qualities should be that he never abide incurious of the poor and that he succour the highest and lowest of them and give them each the rights to them due, so that all bless him and are obedient to his command. Without doubt, a King who is in this way of his subjects is beloved and gains of this world eminence and of the next honour and favour with the Creator of it. And we, the body politic of your subjects, acknowledge in you, O King, all the attributes of kingship I have noted, even as it is said, 'The best of things is that the King of a people be just and equitable, their physician skilful and their teacher experience full, acting according to his knowledge.'

Now we enjoy this happiness, after we had despaired of the birth of a son to you, to inherit your kingship; however, Allah (extolled be His name!) has not disappointed yours expectation, but has granted your petition, by reason of the goodliness of your trust in Him and your submission of yours affairs to Him. Then fair fall your hope! There has happened you that which happened the Crow and the Serpent." Asked the King "What was that?"; and the Wazir answered, "Hear, O King, the tale of