When it was the next day, the second of the king's Wazirs, whose name was Baharún, came in to him and said, "Allah advance the king! This deed which that youth has done is a grave matter, and a foul misdeed and a heinous against the household of the king." So Azadbakht bade fetch the youth, because of the Minister's speech; and when he came into the presence, said to him, "Woe to you, O youth! There is no help but that I do you die by the dread of deaths, for indeed you have committed a grave crime, and I will make you a warning to the folk." The youth replied, "O king, hasten not, for the looking to the ends of affairs is a column of the kingdom, and a cause of continuance and assurance for the kingship. whoever looks not to the issues of actions, there befalls him that which befell the merchant, and whoever looks to the consequences of actions, there betids him of joyance that which betids the merchant's son." The king asked, "And what is the story of the merchant and his sons?" and the youth answered, "Hear, O king,