There was once, of olden time, a king and he had a son Bihzad called, there was not in his tide a fairer than he and he loved to fellow with the folk and

The Story Of Prince Bihzad. 65 to mix with the merchants and sit and talk with them. One day, as he was seated in an assembly, amongst a number of people, he heard them talking of his own beauty and loveliness, and saying, "There be not in his time a fairer than he." But one of the company said, "Indeed, the daughter of King Such an one is seemlier than he." When Bihzad heard this saying, his reason fled and his heart fluttered and he called the last speaker and said to him, "Repeat to me that which you said and tell me the truth concerning her whom you avouchest to be goodlier than I and whose daughter she is." the man, said, "She is the daughter of King Such an one;" whereupon Bihzad's heart slave to her and his colour changed. Presently, the news reached his sire, who said to him, "O my son, this maiden to whom your heart cleavs is at your command and we have power over her; so wait till I demand her in wedlock for you." But the Prince said, "I will not wait." So the king hastened in the matter and sent to demand her of her sire, who required of him an hundred thousand dinars paid down to his daughter's dowry. Said Bihzad's father, "So be it," and weighed out what was in his treasuries, and there remained to his charge but a little of the dower.

So he said, "Have patience, O my son, till we gather together the rest of the money and send to fetch her for you, since now she is become yours." Therewith the Prince grew wroth with exceeding wrath and cried, "I will not have patience;" so he took his sword and his lance and mounting his horse, went forth and fell to cutting the way. It chanced one day that he fell upon a company of folk who overcame him by dint of numbers and taking him prisoner, pinioned him and carried him to the lord of that land in which he was a highwaying. This king saw his semblance and loveliness and misdoubting of him, said, "This be no robber's favour. Tell me truly, O youth, who you are." Bihzad was ashamed to acquaint him with his condition and preferred death for himself; so he answered, "I am nothing but a thief and a bandit." the king said, "It behoves us not to act hastily in the matter of this youth, but that we look into his affair, for that impatience genders penitence." So he imprisoned him in his palace and assigned him one to serve him. Meanwhile the news spread abroad that Bihzad, son of the sovran, was lost, whereupon his father sent letters in quest of him to all the kings including him with whom he was imprisoned.

When the letter reached the latter, he praised Almighty Allah for that he had not anyways hastened in Bihzad's affair and bidding them bring him before himself, said to him, "Are you minded to destroy your life?" Bihzad, said, "I did this for fear of shame;" and the king said, "If you fear shame, you should not practise haste in your doings; know you not that the fruit of impatience is repentance? Had we hasted, we also, like you, had repented." Then he conferred on him a robe of honour and engaged to him for the completion of the dowry and sent to his father, giving him the glad tidings and comforting his heart with news of his son's safety; after which he said to Bihzad, "Arise, O my son, and go to your sire." Rejoined the Prince, "O king, complete your kindness to me by hastening my going in to my wife; for, If I go back to my sire, the time will be long till he send a messenger and he return, promising me dispatch." The king laughed and marvelled at him and said to him, "I fear for you from this precipitancy, lest you come to shame and win not your wish."

Then he gave him muchel of wealth and wrote him letters, commending him to the father of the Princess, and despatched him to them. When he drew near their country, the king came forth to meet him with the people of his realm and assigned him a fine lodging and bade hasten the going in of his daughter to him, in compliance with the other king's letter. He also advised the Prince's father of his son's coming and they busied themselves with the affair of the young lady. When it was the day of the bride's going in Bihzad, of his impetuosity and lack of patience, betook himself to the wall, which was between himself and her lodging and in which was a hole pierced, and of his haste looked through it, so he might see his bride. But her mother espied him and this was grievous to her; so she took from one of the pages two red hot iron spits and thrust them into the hole through which the Prince was looking. The spits ran into his eyes and

Of The Issues Of Good And Evil Actions. 67 put them out and he fell down fainting and the wedding festival was changed to mourning and sore concern. "See, then, O king" (continued the youth), "the issue of the Prince's haste and lack of deliberation, for indeed his impatience bequeathed him long penitence and his joy turned to annoy; and on like wise was it with the woman who hastened to put out his eyes and delayed not to deliberate. All this was the doing of haste; where fore it behoves the king not to be hasty in putting me to death, for that I am under the hold of his hand, and whatever time you desire my slaughter, it shall not escape you." When the king heard this his anger subsided and he said, "Return him back to the prison till tomorrow, so we may look into his case."

The Fifth Day