A Fisherman went forth to a river for fishing within it as was his wont; and when he came there and walked upon the bridge, he saw a great fish and said in himself, "'Twill not serve me to abide here, but I will follow that fish whitherso it goes, till I catch it, for it will relieve me from fishing for days and days." So he did off his clothes and plunged into the river after the fish. The current bore him along till he overtook it and laid hold of it, when he turned and found himself far from the bank. But albeit he saw what the stream had done with him, he would not loose the fish and return, but ventured life and gripping it fast with both hands, let his body float with the flow, which carried him on till it cast him into a whirlpool none might enter and come out from it. With this he fell to crying out and saying, "Save a drowning man!" And there came to him folk of the keepers of the river and said to him, "What ailed you to cast yourself into this great peril?" he said, "It was I myself who forsook the plain way in which was salvation and gave myself over to concupiscence and perdition." they said, "O fellow, why did you leave the way of safety and cast yourself into this destruction, knowing from of old that none may enter in this and be saved? What hindered you from throwing away what was in your hand and saving yourself?

So had you escaped with your life and not fallen into this perdition from where there is no deliverance; and now not one of us can rescue you from this your ruin." Accordingly the man cut off all his hopes of life and lost that which was in his hand and for which his flesh had prompted him to venture himself, and died a miserable death. "And I tell you not this parable, O King," added Shimas, "but that you may leave this contemptible conduct that diverts you from your duties and look to that which is committed to you of the rule of your folk and the maintenance of the order of your realm, so that none may see fault in you." The King asked, "What would you have me do?" And Shimas answered, "To morrow, If you be well and in good case, give the folk leave to come in to you and look into their affairs and excuse yourself to them and promise them of yours own accord good governance and prosperity." the King "O Shimas, you have spoken sensibly and rightly; and to morrow, God willing, I will do that which you counsellest me." So the Wazir went out from him and told the subjects all he had said to him; and, when morning morrowed, the King came forth of his privacy and bade admit the people, to whom he excused himself, promising them that thenceforward he would deal with them as they wished, wherewith they were content and departed each to his own dwelling. Then one of the King's wives, who was his best beloved of them and most in honour with him, visited him and seeing him changed of colour and thoughtful

The Boy And The Thieves. 95 over his affairs, by reason of that which he had heard from his Chief Wazir, said to him, "O King, how is it that I see you troubled in mind? Have you anything to complain of?" Answered he, "No: but my pleasures have distracted me from my duties. What right have I to be thus negligent of my affairs and those of my subjects? If I continue in this way, soon, very soon, the kingdom will pass out of my hand." She rejoined "I see, O King, that you have been duped by the Wazirs and Ministers, who wish but to torment and entrap you, so you may have no joyance of this your kingship neither feel ease nor taste delight; nay, they would have you consume your life in warding off trouble from them, till your days be wasted in travail and weariness and you be as one who slays himself for the benefit of another or like the Boy and the Thieves." Asked the King, "How was that?" and she answered, "They tell the following tale anent