Now when it was the ninth day, the Wazirs met and said one to another, "Truly, this youth baffles us, for as often as the king is minded to kill him, he beguiles him and bewitches him with a story; so what is your counsel? What should we do, that we may slay him and be at rest from him?" Then they advised together and agreed that they should go to the king's wife. So they betook themselves to her and said to her, "You are careless of this affair in which you are involved and this carelessness shall not profit you; whilst the king, occupied with eating and drinking and diversion, forgets that the folk beat upon tambourines and sing of you and say, 'The wife of the king loves the youth;' and as long as he abides alive the talk will increase and not diminish." She said, "By God, it was you who egged me on against him, and what shall I do now?" And they said, "Go you in to the king and weep and say to him, 'Truly, the women come to me and inform me that I am dishonoured throughout the city, and what is your advantage in the sparing of this youth? If you will not slay him, slay me to the end that this talk may be cut off from us.' "

So the woman arose and, rending her raiment, went in to the king in the presence of the Wazirs, and cast herself upon him, saying, "O king, is my shame not upon you or fear you not shame? Indeed, this is not the fashion of kings that their jealousy over their women should be such as this. You are heedless and all the folk of the realm speak of you, men and women alike. Either slay him, that the talk may be cut off, or slay me, if your soul will not consent to his slaughter." Thereupon the king's wrath grew hot and he said to her, "I have no pleasure in his continuance and needs must I slay him this very day. So return to your palace and solace your heart." Then he bade fetch the youth; whereupon they brought him before him and the Wazirs said, "O basest of the base, fie upon you! Your life term is at hand and earth hungers for your flesh, so it may make a meal of it." But he said to them, "Death is not in your word or in your envy; nay, it is a destiny written upon the forehead: if anything be writ upon my front, there is no help but it come to pass, and neither striving nor thought-taking nor precaution seeking shall deliver me from it; even as happened to King Ibrahim and his son." The king said, "Who was King Ibrahim and who was his son?" and the youth said, "Hear, O king,