It is said that sundry Tortoises dwelt once in a certain island abounding in trees and fruiterers and rills, and it fortuned, one day, that a Francolin, passing over the island, was overcome with the fiery heat and fatigue and being in grievous suffering stayed his flight within it. Presently, looking about for a cool place, he espied the resort of the Tortoises and alighted down near their home. Now they were then abroad foraging for food, and when they returned from their feeding places to their dwelling, they found the Francolin there. His beauty pleased them and Allah made him lovely in their eyes, so that they exclaimed, "Subhána 'lláh," extolling their Creator and loved the Francolin with exceeding love and rejoiced in him, saying one to other, "Forsure this is of the goodliest of the birds;" and all began to caress him and entreat him with kindness. When he saw that they looked on him with eyes of affection, he inclined to them and companioned with them and took up his abode with them, flying away in the morning where he would and returning at eventide to pass the night by side of them. in this way he continued a long while until the Tortoises, seeing that his daily absence from them desolated them and finding that they never saw him save by night (for at dawn he still took flight in haste and they knew not what came of him, for all that their love grew to him), said each to other, "Indeed, we love this Francolin and he is become our true friend and we cannot bear parting from him, so how shall we devise some device tending to make him abide with us always? For he flies away at dawn and is absent from us all day and we see him not save by night." one of said them "Be easy, O my sisters: I will bring him not to leave us for the turn of an eye?" and the rest saying, "If you do this, we will all be your thralls."

So, when the Francolin came back from his feeding place and sat down amongst them, that wily Tortoise drew near unto him and called down blessings on him, giving him joy of his safe return and saying, "O my lord, know that Allah has vouchsafed you our love and has in like manner set in your heart the love of us, by which you are become to us a familiar friend and a comrade in this desert. Now the goodliest of times for those who love one another is when they are united and the sorest of calamities for them are absence and severance. But you departest from us at peep of day and returnest not to us till sundown, therefore there betids us extreme desolation. Indeed this is exceeding grievous to us and we abide in sore longing for such reason." The Francolin replied, "Indeed, I love you also and yearn for you yet more than you can yearn for me, nor is it easy for me to leave you; but my hand has no help for this, seeing that I am a fowl with wings and may not wone with you always, because that is not of my nature. For a bird, being a winged creature, may not remain still, save it be for the sake of sleep o' nights; but, as soon as it is day, he flies away and seeks his morning meal in what place soever pleases him."

Answered the Tortoise, "truth you speak! Nevertheless he who has wings has no repose at most seasons, for that the good he getts is not a fourth part of what ill betids him, and the highmost aims of the creature are repose and ease of life. Now Allah has bred between us and you love and fellowship and we fear for you, lest some of yours enemies catch you and you perish and we be denied the sight of your countenance." Rejoined the Francolin, "True! But what counsel have you or resource for my case?" the Tortoise "My advice is that you pluck out your wing feathers, wherewith you speedest your flight, and tarry with us in tranquillity, eating of our meat and drinking of our drink in this pasturage, that abounds in trees rife with fruits yellow ripe and we will sojourn, we and you' in this fruitful stead and enjoy the company of one another." The Francolin inclined to her speech, seeking ease for himself, and plucked out his wing feathers, one by one, in accordance with the counsel approved of by the Tortoise; then he took up his abode with them and contented himself with the little ease and transient pleasure he enjoyed. Presently, up came a Weasel and glancing at the Francolin, saw that his wings were plucked, so that he could not fly, at which he rejoiced with joy exceeding and said to himself, "truly that Francolin is fat of flesh and scant of feather." So he went up to him and seized him, whereupon the Francolin called out to the Tortoises for help; but when they saw the Weasel hend him, they drew apart from him and huddled together, choked with weeping for him, for they witnessed how the beast tortured him. the Francolin "Is there anything with you but weeping?"; and they said, "O our brother, we have neither

The Francolin and the Tortoises. 115 force nor resource nor any course against a Weasel." At this the Francolin was grieved and cutting off all his hopes of life said to them, "The fault is not yours, but my own fault, in that I hearkened to you and plucked out my wing feathers wherewith I used to fly. Indeed I deserve destruction for having obeyed you, and I blame you not in anything." "On like wise," continued the King, "I do not blame you, O women; but I blame and reproach myself for that I remembered not that you were the cause of the transgression of our father Adam, by reason whereof he was cast out from the Garden of Eden and for that I forgot you are the root of all evil and hearkened to you, in my ignorance, lack of sense and weakness of judgment and slew my Wazirs and the Governors of my State, who were my loyal advisers in all my actions and my glory and my strength against whatever troubled me. But at this time find I not one to replace them nor see I any who shall stand me in their stead; and I fall into utter perdition."—

When it was the Nine Hundred and Twenty fifth night

She pursued, the King blamed himself saying, "'Twas I that hearkened to you in my ignorance and slew my Wazirs so that now I find none to stand in their stead; and unless Allah succour me with one of sound judgment, who shall guide me to that in which is my deliverance, I am fallen into utter perdition." Then he arose and withdrew into his bedchamber, bemoaning his Wazirs and wise men and saying, "Would Heaven those lions were with me at this time, though but for an hour; so I might excuse myself unto them and look on them and bemoan to them my case and the travail that has happened me after them!" And he abode all his day sunken in the sea of cark and care neither eating nor drinking. But as soon as the night fell dark, he arose and changing his raiment, donned old clothes and disguised himself and went forth at a venture to walk about the city, so perhaps he might hear from any some word of comfort. As he wandered about the main streets, behold, he chanced upon two boys who had sought a retired seat by a wall and he observed that they were equal in age, or about twelve years old. As they talked together he drew near them whereas he might hear and apprehend what they said, unseen of them, and heard one say to the other, "Listen, O my brother, to what my sire told me yesternight of the calamity which has happened him in the withering of his crops before their time, by reason of the rarity of rain and the sore sorrow that is fallen on this city." the other "Wottest you not the cause of this affliction?"; and the first "No! And, if you ken it, pray tell it me."

Rejoined the other, "Yes, I know it and will tell! It you. Know that I have heard from one of my father's friends that our King slew his Wazirs and Grandees, not for anything of offence done of them, but only by reason of his love for women and inclination to them; for that his Ministers forbade him from this, but he would not be forbidden and commanded to do them die in obedience to his wives. Thus he slew Shimas my sire, who was his Wazir and the Wazir of his father before him and the chief of his council; but right soon you will see how Allah will do with him by reason of his sins against them and how He shall avenge them of him." The other boy asked, "What can Allah do now that they are dead?"; and his fellow answered, "Know that the King of Outer Hind makes light of our monarch, and has sent him a letter berating him and saying to him, 'Build me a castle In the very middle of the sea, or I will send unto you Badi'a my Wazir, with twelve hordes of horse, each twelve thousand strong to seize upon your kingdom and slay your men and carry you and your women into captivity.'

And he has given him three days' time to answer after the receipt of that missive. Now you must know, O my brother, that this King of Outer Hind is a masterful tyrant, a man of might and prowess in fight, and in his realm are much people; so unless our King made shift to fend him off from himself, he will fall into perdition, whilst the King of Hind, after slaying our Sovran, will seize on our possessions and massacre our men and make prize of our women." When the King heard this their talk, his agitation increased and he inclined to the boys, saying, "Surely, this boy is a wizard, in that he is acquainted with this thing without learning it from me; for the letter is in my keeping and the secret also and none has knowledge of such matter but myself. How then knows this boy of it? I will resort to him and talk

King Wird Khan and his Women and Wazirs. 117 with him and I pray Allah that our deliverance may be at his hand." Hereupon the King approached the boy softly and said to him, "O you dear boy, what is this you say of our King, that he did ill of the evilest in slaying his Wazirs and the Chiefs of his State? Indeed he sinned against himself and his subjects and you are right in that which you say. But tell me, O my son, from where know you that the King of Outer Hind has written him a letter, berating him and bespeaking him with the grievous speech whereof you tellest?" The boy replied, "O brother, I know this from the sand where with I take compt of night and day and from the saying of the ancients, 'No mystery from Allah is hidden; for the sons of Adam have in them a spiritual virtue which discovers to them the darkest secrets.'" Answered Wird Khan, "True, O my son, but from where learnedest you geomancy and you young of years?" the boy "My father taught it me;" and the King "Is your father alive or dead?" "He is dead," replied the boy.

Then Wird Khan asked, "Is there any resource or device for our King, by which to ward off from himself and his kingdom this sore calamity?" And the boy answered, saying, "It befits not that I speak with you of this; but, an the King send for me and ask me how he shall do to baffle his foe and get free of his snares, I will acquaint him with that in which, by the power of Allah Almighty, shall be his salvation." Rejoined Wird Khan, "But who shall tell the King of this that he may send for you and invite you to him?" The boy retorted, "I hear that he seeks men of experience and good counsel, so I will go up with them to him and tell him that in which shall be his welfare and the warding off of this affliction from him, but, If he neglect the pressing matter and busy himself with his love liesse among his women and I go to him of my own accord designing to acquaint him with the means of deliverance, he will assuredly give orders to slay me, even as he slew those his Wazirs, and my courtesy to him will be the cause of my destruction. Why the folk will think slightly of me and belittle my wit and I shall be of those of whom it is said, 'He whose science excells his sense perishes by his ignorance.'"

When the King heard the boy's words, he was assured of his sagacity; and the excellence of his merit was manifest and he was certified that deliverance would happen him and his subjects at the boy's hands. So presently he resumed the colloquy and asked him, "from where are you and where is your home?"; and the boy answered, "This is the wall of our house." King took note of the place and farewelling the boy, returned to his palace in high spirits. There he changed his clothes and called for meat and wine, forbidding his women from him; and he ate and drank and returned thanks to Allah the Most High and besought Him of succour and deliverance; and he craved His pardon and forgiveness for that which he had done with his Wazirs and Olema and turned to Him with sincere repentance, imposing on himself many a prayer and long fasting, by way of discipline vow. On the morrow, he called one of his confidential eunuchs and describing to him the boy's home, bade him repair there and bring him to his presence with all gentleness. Accordingly the slave sought out the boy and said to him, "The King summons you, that good may happen you from him and that he may ask you a question; then will you return safe and sound to your dwelling."

Asked the boy, "What is the King's need of me that he bids me to him in this way?"; and the eunuch answered, "My lord's occasion with you is question and answer." "A thousand times hearkening and a thousand times obeying the commandment of the King!" replied the boy and accompanied the slave to the palace. When he came into the presence, he prostrated himself before Allah and after salaming, called down blessings on the King who returned his salutation and bade him be seated.—

When it was the Nine Hundred and Twenty sixth night

Answered the boy, "Yes," and the King said, "And where is he?" "'Tis he who speaks with me at this present," said the boy. Rejoined the King, "You sayst truth, O friend," and bade set him a chair beside his own, on which he made him sit and called for meat and drink. Then they talked awhile and the King said,

King Wird Khan and his Women and Wazirs. 119

"Ho you the Wazir, in our talk yesternight you told me that you had a device by which you could defend us from the malice of the King of Hind. What is this contrivance and how shall we manoeuvre to ward off his mischief from us? Tell me, that I may make you chief those who speak with me in the realm and choose you to be my Grand Wazir and do according to your judgment in all you counsellest me and assign you a splendid honorarium." Answered the boy, "O King, keep your honorarium to yourself and seek counsel and policy of your women, who directed you to slay my father Shimas and the rest of the Wazirs." When the King heard this, he was ashamed and sighed and said, "O you dear boy, was Shimas indeed your sire?" The boy replied, "Shimas was indeed my sire, and I am in truth his son." Whereupon the King bowed his head, whilst the tears ran from his eyes, and he craved pardon of Allah. Then he said, "O boy, indeed I did this of my ignorance and by the evil counsel of the women; for 'Great indeed is their malice': but I beseech you to forgive me and I will set you in your father's stead and make your rank higher than his rank. Moreover, If you do away from us this retribution sent down from Heaven, I will deck your neck with a collar of gold and mount you on the goodliest of steeds and bid the crier make proclamation before you, saying, 'This is the gladly boy, the Wazir who sits in the second seat after the King!'

And touching what you say of the women, I have it in mind to do vengeance on them at such time as Almighty Allah shall will it. But tell me now what you have with you of counsel and contrivance, that my heart may be content." the boy "Swear to me an oath that you will not gainsay me in whatever I shall say to you and that I from that which I fear shall be safe," and the King "This is the covenant of Allah between me and you, that I will not go from your word and that you will be my chief counsellor and whatever you bid me, that will I do; and the Almighty Lord is witness betwixt us twain whatever I say." Therewith the boy's breast grew broad and the field of speech was opened to him wide and he said, "O King, my advice to you is that you await the expiration of the delay appointed to you for answering the courier of the King of Hind; and when he comes before you seeking the reply, do you put him off to another day. With this he will excuse himself to you, on the ground of his master having appointed him certain fixed days, and importune for an answer; but do you rebut him and defer him to another day, without specifying what day it be.

Then will he go forth from you an angered and betake himself into the midst of the city and speak openly among the folk, saying, 'O people of the city, I am a courier of the King of Outer Hind, who is a monarch of great puissance and of determination such as softens iron. He sent me with a letter to the King of this city appointing to me certain days, saying, 'If you be not with me by the time appointed, my vengeance shall fall on you.' Now, behold, I went in to the King of this city and gave him the missive, which when he had read, he sought of me a delay of three days, after which he would return me an answer to the letter and I agreed to this of courtesy and consideration for him. When the three days were past, I went to seek the reply of him, but he delayed me to another day; and now I have no patience to wait longer; so I am about to return to my lord, the King of Outer Hind, and acquaint him with that which has befallen me; and you, O folk, are witnesses between me and him.'

All this will be reported to you and do you send for him and speak him gently and say to him, 'O you who seek yours own ruin, what has moved you to blame us among our subjects? truly, you deservest present death at our hands; but the ancients say, 'Clemency is of the attributes of nobility.' Know that our delay in answering arose not from helplessness on our part, but from our much business and lack of leisure to look into yours affair and write a reply to your King.' Then call for the scroll and read it again and laugh loud and long and say to the courier, 'Have you a letter other than this? If so, we will write you an answer to that also.' He will say, 'I have none other than this letter'; but do you repeat your question to him a second time and a third time,

King Wird Khan and his Women and Wazirs. 121 and he will reply, 'I have none other at all.' Then say to him, 'truly, this your King is utterly witless in that he writes us the like of this writ seeking to arouse our wrath against him, so that we shall go forth to him with our forces and domineer over his dominions and capture his kingdom. But we will not punish him this time for his unmannerly manners as shown in this letter, because he is wanting in wit and feeble of foresight, and it beseems our dignity that we first warn him not to repeat the like of these childish extravagances; and if he risk his life by returning to the like of this, he will deserve speedy destruction. Indeed, I think this King of yours who sent you on such errand must be an ignorant fool, taking no thought to the issue of things and having no Wazir of sense and good counsel, with whom he may advise. Were he a man of mind, he had taken counsel with a Wazir, before sending us the like of this laughable letter. But he shall have a reply similar to his script and surpassing it; for I will give it to one of the boys of the school to answer.'

Then send for me; and, when I come to the presence, bid me read the letter and reply thereto." When the King heard the boy's speech, his breast broadened and he approved his proposal and his device delighted him. So he conferred gifts upon him and installing him in his father's office, sent him away rejoicing. And as soon as expired the three days of delay which he had appointed, the courier presented himself and going in to the King, demanded the answer; but he put him off to another day; whereupon he went to the end of the carpet room and spoke with unseemly speech, even as the boy had foresaid. Then he betook himself to the bazar and cried, "Ho, people of this city, I am a courier of the King of Outer Hind and came with a message to your monarch who still puts me off from a reply. Now the term is past which my master limited to me and your King has no excuse, and you are witnesses unto this." When these words reached the King, he sent for that courier and said to him, "O you that seeks yours own ruin, are you not the bearer of a letter from King to King, between whom are secrets, and how comes it that you go forth among the folk and publishest Kings' secrets to the vulgar? truly? you meritest retribution from us, but this we will forbare, for the sake of returning an answer by you to this fool of a King of yours: and it befits not that any return to him reply but the least of the boys of the school."

Then he sent for the Wazir's son, who came and prostrating himself before Allah, offered up prayers for the King's lasting glory and long life; whereupon Wird Khan threw him the letter, saying, "Read that letter and write me an acknowledgment of it in haste." The boy took the letter and read it, smiled; then he laughed; then he laughed aloud and asked the King, "Did you send for me to answer this letter?", "Yes," answered Wird Khan, and the boy said, "O King, methought you had sent for me on some grave occasion; indeed," a lesser than I had answered this letter but 'tis yours to command, O powerful potentate." the King "Write the reply directly, on account of the courier, for that he is appointed a term and we have delayed him another day." the boy "With the readiest I hear and I obey," and pulling out paper and inkcase wrote as follows:—

When it was the Nine Hundred and Twenty seventh night

Then the boy drew his own portrait in the margin of the letter and wrote thereunder the words: "This answer was written by the least of the boys of the school." After this he sealed it and handed it to the King, who gave it to the courier, and the man, after taking it and kissing the King's hands went forth from him thanking Allah and the Sovran for his royal clemency to him and marvelling at the boy's intelligence. He arrived at the court of the King, his master, on the third day after the expiration of the term appointed to him, and found that he had called a meeting of his council, by reason of the failure of the courier to return at the time appointed. So he went in to the King and prostrating himself before him, gave him the letter. The King took it and questioned him of the cause of his tarrying and how it was with King Wird Khan. So he told him all he had seen with his own eyes and heard with his own ears; at which the King's wit was confounded and he said, "Out on you! What tale is this you tellest me of the like of this King?"

Answered the courier, "O mighty monarch, here am I in your presence, but open the letter and read it, and the truth of my speech will be manifest to you." So the King opened the letter and read it and seeing the semblance of the boy who had written it, made sure of the loss of his kingdom and was perplexed anent the end of his affair. Then, turning to his Wazirs and Grandees, he acquainted them with what had occurred and read to them the letter, at which they were affrighted with the sorest affright and sought to soothe the King's terror with words that were only from the tongue, whilst their hearts were torn piecemeal with palpitations of alarm. But Badi'a (the Chief Wazir) presently said, "Know, O King, that there is no profit in that which my brother Wazirs have proffered, and it is my advice that you write this King a writ and excuse yourself to him within it, saying, 'I love you and loved your father before you and sent you not this letter by the courier except only to prove you and try your constancy and see what was in you of valiancy and your proficiency in matters of practick and theorick and skill in enigmas and that wherewith you are endowed of all perfections. So we pray Almighty Allah to bless you in your kingdom and strengthen the defences of your capital and add to your dominion, since

King Wird Khan and his Women and Wazirs. 125 you are mindful of yourself and managest to accomplish every need of your subjects. And send it to him by another courier." Exclaimed the King, "By God of All might! 'tis a marvel of marvels that this man should be a mighty King and ready for war, after his slaughter of all the wise men of his kingdom and his counsellors and the captains of his host and that his realm should be populous and prosper after this and there should issue from it this prodigious power! But the marvelousest of all is that the little ones of its schools should return the like of this answer for its King. truly, of the vileness of my greed I have kindled this fire upon myself and subjects, and I know not how I shall quench it, save by taking the advice of this my Wazir." Accordingly he gat ready a costly present, with eunuchs and slaves manifold, and wrote the following reply, "In the name of Allah the Compassionating, the Compassionate! To proceed: O Glorious King Wird Khan, son of my dear brother, Jali'ad, may the Lord have mercy on you and continue you! Yours answer to our letter has reached us and we have read it and apprehended its contents and see within it that which gladdens us and this is the utmost of that which we sought of Allah for you; so we beseech Him to exalt your dignity and stablish the pillars of your state and give you the victory over your foes and those who purpose you frowardness. Know, O King, that your father was my brother and that there were between us in his lifetime pacts and covenants, and never saw he from me anything save weal, nor ever saw I from him other than good; and when he deceased and you took seat upon the throne of his kingship, there happened us the utmost joy and gladness; but, when the news reached us of that which you did with your Wazirs and the Notables of your State, we feared lest the report of you should come to the ears of some King other than ourselves and he should presume against you, for that we deemed you negligent of yours affairs and of the maintenance of your defences and neglectful of the interests of your kingdom, so we let write unto you what should arouse your spirit. But, when we saw that you returnedest us the like of this reply, our heart was set at ease for you, may Allah give you enjoyment of your kingdom and stablish you in your dignity! And so peace be with you." Then he despatched the letter and the presents to Wird Khan with an escort of an hundred horse,—

When it was the Nine Hundred and Twenty eighth night

So the boy read the letter in the presence of the hundred

King Wird Khan and his Women and Wazirs. 127 horse, and the King and all present marvelled at its ordinance of style and sense. Then the King sealed the letter and delivering it to the Captain of the hundred horse, dismissed him with some of his own troops, to escort him as far as the frontier of his country. The Captain returned, confounded in mind at that which he had seen of the boy's knowledge and thanking Allah for the speedy accomplishment of his errand and the acceptance of peace, to the King of Outer Hind. Then going in to the presence, he delivered the presents and handed to him the letter, telling him what he had seen and heard, at which the King rejoiced with joy exceeding and rendered lauds to his Lord the Most High and honoured the Captain commending his care and zeal and advancing him in rank. And from that hour he woned in peace and tranquillity and all happiness. As for King Wird Khan, he returned to the paths of righteousness, abandoning his evil ways and repenting to Allah with sincere penitence; and he gave up womanising altogether and applied himself wholly to the ordering of the affairs of his realm and the governance of his people in the fear of Allah. Furthermore, he made the son of Shimas Wazir in his father's stead, and the chief after himself in his realm and keeper of his secrets and bade decorate his capital for seven days and likewise the other cities of his kingdom. At this the subjects rejoiced and fear and alarm ceased from them and they were glad in the prospect of justice and equity and instant in prayer for the King and for the Minister who from him and them had done away this trouble.

Then said the King to the Wazir, "What is your advice for the assuring of the state and the prospering of the people and the return of the realm to its aforetime state as regards Captains and Councillors?" Answered the boy, "O King of high estate, in my judgment it behoves before all, that you begin by rending out from your heart the root of wickedness and leave your debauchery and tyranny and addiction to women; for, If you return to the root of transgression, the second backsliding will be worse than the first." The King asked, "And what is the root of sinfulness that it behoves me to root out from my heart?" and was answered by the Wazir, little of years but great of wit, "O King the root of wickedness is subjection to the desire of women and inclining to them and following their counsel and contrivance; for the love of them changes the soundest wit and corrupts the most upright nature, and manifest proofs bear witness to my saying, in which If you meditate them and follow their actions and consequences with eyes intent, you will find a loyal counsellor against your own soul and will stand in no need whatever of my advice. Look, then, you occupy not your heart with the thought of womankind and do away the trace of them from your mind, for that Allah the Most High has forbidden excessive use of them by the mouth of His prophet Moses, so that a certain wise King to his said son 'O my son, when you succeedest to the kingdom after me, frequent not women overmuch, lest your heart be led astray and your judgment be corrupted; for that overmuch commerce with them leads to love of them, and love of them to corruption of judgment'. And the proof of this is what befell our Lord Solomon, son of David, (peace be upon the twain of them!) whom Allah specially endowed with knowledge and wisdom and supreme dominion, nor vouchsafed He to any one of the Kings his predecessors the like of that which He gave him; and women were the cause of his father's offending. The examples of this are many, O King, and I do but make mention of Solomon to you for that you know that to none was given such dominion as that with which he was invested, so that all the Kings of the earth obeyed him. Know then, O King, that the love of women is the root of all evil and none of them has any judgment: Why it behoves a man use them according to his need and not incline to them with utter inclination for that will cast him into corruption and perdition. If you hearken to my words, all yours affairs will prosper; but, If you neglect them you will repent, whenas repentance will not profit you" Answered the King "truly, I have left my former inclination to women."—

When it was the Nine Hundred and Twenty ninth night

She pursued, It has reached me, O mighty monarch, that King Wird Khan said to his Wazir, "Indeed, I have left my former inclination to women and have altogether renounced my infatuation for them; but how shall I do to punish them in retaliation of their misdeeds? For the slaying of your sire Shimas was of their malice and not of my own will, and I know not what ailed my reason that I consented with their proposal to slay him " Then he cried, "Ah me!" And groaned and lamented, saying, "Well away and alas for the loss of my Wazir and his just judgement and admirable administration

King Wird Khan and his Women and Wazirs. 129 and for the loss of his like of the Wazirs and Heads of the State and of the goodliness old their apt counsels and sagacious!" "O King," the boy said minister "Know that the fault is not with women alone, for that they are like unto a pleasing stock in trade, whereto the lusts of the lookers on incline. To whoever lusts and buys, they sell it, but whoever buys not, none forces him to buy, so that the fault is of him who buys, especially if he know the harmfulness of that merchandise. Now, I warn you, as did my sire before me, but you acceptedest not to his counsel." Answered the King, "O Wazir, indeed I have fixed this fault upon myself, even as you have said, and I have no excuse except divine fore ordainment." Rejoined the Wazir, "O King, know that Almighty Allah has created us and endowed us with capability and appointed to us freewill and choice; so, if we will, we do, and if we will, we do not. The Lord commanded us not to do harm, lest sin attach to us; Why it befits us to take compt of whatever is right to do, for that the Almighty bids us nothing but good in all cases and forbidds us only from evil; but what we do, we do of our own design, be it fair or faulty." the King "You say truth, and indeed my fault arose from my surrendering myself to my lusts, albeit often and often my better self warned me from this and your sire Shimas also warned me often and often; but my lust overcame my wits. Have you then with you anything that may withhold me from again committing this error and by which my reason may be victorious over the desires of my soul?" "The Wazir said, "Yes: I can tell you what will restrain you from relapsing into this fault, and it is that you doff the garment of ignorance and don that of understanding, and disobey your passions and obey your Lord and revert to the policy of the just King your sire, and fulfil your duties to Allah the Most High and to your people and apply yourself to the defence of your faith and the promotion of your subjects' welfare and rule yourself aright and forbear the slaughter of your people, and look to the end of things and sever yourself from tyranny and oppression and arrogance and lewdness, and practise justice, equity and humility and bow before the bidding of the Almighty and apply yourself to gentle dealing with those of His creatures over whom He set you and be assiduous as it besitts you in fulfilling their prayers unto you. If you be constant in this may your days be serene and may Allah of His mercy pardon you and make you loved and feared of all who look on you; so shall your foes be brought to nothing, for the Omnipotent shall rout their hosts and you will have acceptance with Him and of His creatures be dreaded and to them endeared." the King "Indeed you have quickened my vitals and illumined my heart with your sweet speech and have opened the eyes of my clear seeing after blindness; and I am resolved to do whatever you have set forth to me, with the help of the Almighty, leaving my former case of lust and sinfulness and bringing forth my soul from durance vile to deliverance and from fear to safety.

So it behoves you to be joyful at this and contented, for that I am become to you as a son, maugre my more of age, If you to me as a dear father, despite your tenderness of years, and it has become incumbent on me to do my utmost endeavour in all you commandest me. Why I thank the bounty of Allah and your bounty because He has vouchsafed me, by you, fair fortune and goodly guidance and just judgment to ward off my cark and care; and the security of my subjects has been brought about by your hand, through the excellence of your knowledge and the goodliness of your contrivance. And you, from this hour, will be the counsellor of my kingdom and equal to myself in all but sitting upon the throne; and whatever you do shall be law to me and none shall disobey your word, young in years though you be, for that you are old in wit and knowledge. So I thank Allah who deigned grant you to me, that you may guide me into the way of salvation and out of the crooked paths of perdition." "The Wazir said, ", know that no merit is due to me for giving you loyal counsel; for that to succour you by deed and word is one of the things which is incumbent on me, seeing that I am but a plant of your bounty; and not I alone, but one before me was overwhelmed with your beneficence; so that we are both alike partakers in your honours and favours, and how shall we not acknowledge this? Moreover you, O King, art our shepherd and ruler and he who wards off from us our foes, and to whom are committed our protection and our guardian, constant in endeavour for our safety. Indeed, though we lavished our lives in your service, yet should we not fulfil that which is incumbent on us of gratitude to you, but we supplicate Allah Almighty, who has set you over us and made you our ruler, and beseech Him vouchsafe you long life and success in all yours enterprises and not to make trial of you with afflictions in your time, but bring you to your desire and make you to be reverenced till the day of your death and lengthen yours arms in generosity, so you may have command

King Wird Khan and his Women and Wazirs. 131 over every wise man and subdue every wicked man and all the wise and brave be found with you in your realm and all the ignorant and cowardly be plucked out from your reign; and we pray Him to withhold from your people scarcity and calamity and sow among them the seed of love and friendship and cause them to enjoy of this world its prosperity and of the next felicity, of His grace and bounty and hidden mercies. Amen! For He is over all things Omnipotent and there is nothing difficult unto Him, to Him all things tend." When the King heard the Wazir's prayer, he was mightily rejoiced and inclined to him with his whole heart, saying, "Know, O Wazir, you are to me in lieu of brother and son and father, and nothing but death shall divide me from you. All that my hand possesses you will have the disposal of and, if I have no child to succeed me, you will sit on my throne in my stead; for you are the worthiest of all the folk of my realm, and I will invest you with my Kingship in the presence of the Grandees of my state and appoint you my heir apparent to inherit the kingdom after me, God willing!"—

When it was the Nine Hundred and Thirties night

Then he summoned his Secretary and bade him write to all the Lords of his land, convoking them at his Court, and caused proclamation to be made in his city to all the townsfolk great and small, bidding every one of the Emirs and Governors and Chamberlains and other officers and dignitaries to his presence as well as the Olema and Literati learned in the law. He held to boot a grand Divan and made a banquet, never was its like seen anywhere and thereto he bade all the folk, high and low. So they assembled and abode in merry making, eating and drinking a month's space; after which the King clothed the whole of his household and the poor of his Kingdom and bestowed on the men of knowledge abundant largesse. Then he chose out a number of the Olema and wise men who were known to the son of Shimas, and caused them go in to him, bidding him choose out of them six that he might make them Wazirs under commandment of the boy. Accordingly he selected six of the oldest of them in years and the best in wits and fullest of lore and the quickest of memory and judgment, and presented them to the King, who clad them in Wazirial habit saying, "You are become my Ministers, under the commandment of this my Grand Wazir, the son of Shimas. whatever he says to you or bids you to do, you shall never and in no wise depart from it, albeit he is the youngest of you in years, for he is the eldest of you in intellect and intelligence."

Then he seated them upon chairs, adorned with gold after the usage of Wazirs, and appointed to them stipends and allowances, bidding them choose out such of the notables of the kingdom and officers of the troops present at the banquet as were aptest for the service of the state, that he might make them Captains of tens and Captains of hundreds and Captains of thousands and appoint to them dignities and stipends and assign them provision, after the manner of Grandees. This they did with entire diligence and he bade them also handsel all who were present with large gifts and dismiss them each to his country with honour and renown; he also charged his governors to rule the people with justice and enjoined them to be tender to the poor as well as to the rich and bade succour them from the treasury, according to their several degrees. So the Wazirs wished him permanence of glory and continuance of life, and he commanded to decorate the city three days, in gratitude to Allah Almighty for mercies vouchsafed to him. Such was the case with the King and his Wazir, Ibn Shimas in the ordinance of his kingdom through his Emirs and Governors, but as regards the favourite women, wives, concubines and others who, by their malice and perfidy, had brought about the slaughter of the Wazirs and had well near ruined the realm, as soon as the Court was dissolved and all the people had departed, each to his own place, after their affairs had been set in order, the King summoned his boy Minister, the son of Shimas, and the other six Wazirs and taking them apart privily, said to them, "Know, O Wazirs, that I have been a wanderer from the right way, drowned in ignorance, opposed to admonition, a breaker of facts and

King Wird Khan and his Women and Wazirs. 133 promises and a gainsayer of good counsellors; and the cause of all this was my being fooled by these women and the wiles where by they beset me and the glozing lure of their speech, by which they seduced me to sin and my acceptance of this, for that I deemed the words of them true and loyal counsel, by reason of their sweetness and softness; but lo, and behold! they were deadly poison. And now I am certified that they sought but to ruin and destroy me, Why they deserve punishment and retribution from me, for justice sake, that I may make them a warning to whoever will be warned. And what say your just judgments anent doing them to die?" Answered the boy Wazir, "O mighty King, I have already told you that women are not alone to blame, but that the fault is shared between them and the men who hearken to them. However, they deserve punishment and requital for two reasons: firstly for the fulfilment of your word, because you are the supreme King; and secondly, by reason of their presumption against you and their seducing you and their meddling with that which concerns them not and whereof it befits them not even to speak. Why they have right well deserved death; yet let that which has befallen them suffice them, and do you henceforth reduce them to servants' estate. But it is yours to command in this and in other than this."

Then one of the Wazirs seconded the counsel of Ibn Shimas; but another of them prostrated himself before the King and said to him, "Allah prolong the King's life! If you be indeed resolved to do with them that which shall cause their death, do with them as I shall say to you." Asked Wird Khan, "And what is that?"; and the Wazir answered, "'Twere best that you bid some of your female slaves carry the women who played you false to the apartment, in which befell the slaughter of your Wazirs and wise men and imprison them there; and bid that they be provided with a little meat and drink, enough to keep life in their bodies. Let them never be suffered to go forth of that place, and whenever one of them dies, let her abide among them, as she is, till they die all, even to the last of them. This is the least of their desert, because they were the cause of this great avail, ay, and the origin of all the troubles and calamities that have befallen in our time; so shall there be verified in them the saying of the Sayer, 'whoever diggs his brother a pit shall surely himself fall into it, albeit of long safety he have benefit.'"

The King accepted the Wazir's counsel and sending for four stalwart female slaves, committed the offending women to them, bidding them bear them into the place of slaughter and imprison them there and allow them every day a little coarse food and a little troubled water. They did with them as he bade, Why the women mourned with sore mourning, repenting them of that which they had done and lamenting with grievous lamentation. Thus Allah gave them their reward of abjection in this world and prepared for them torment in the world to come; nor did they cease to abide in that murky and noisome place, whilst every day one or other of them died, till they all perished, even to the last of them; and the report of this event was bruited abroad in all lands and countries. This is the end of the story of the King and his Wazirs and subjects, and praise be to Allah who causes peoples to pass away, and quickens the bones that rot in decay; Him who alone is worthy to be glorified and magnified alway and hallowed for ever and aye! And amongst the tales they tell is one of