They relate that a certain king sat one day on the terrace roof of his palace, solacing himself with the view, and presently, his wandering glances espied, on a house top over against his palace, a woman seer never saw her like. So he turned to those present and asked them, "To whom belongs that house?" when they answered, "To your servant Fírúz, and that is his spouse." So he went down (and indeed passion had made him drunken as with wine, and he was deeply in love of her), and calling Firuz, said to him, "Take this letter and go with it to such a city and bring me the reply." Firuz took the letter and going to his house, laid it under his head and passed that night; and when the morning morrowed, he farewelled his wife and fared for that city, unknowing what his sovran purposed against him. As for the king, he arose in haste after the husband had set out and repairing to the house of Firuz in disguise, knocked at the entrance. Said Firuz's wife, "Who's at the door?" and He said, saying, "I am the king, your husband's master." So she opened and he entered and sat down, saying, "We are come to visit you." She cried, "I seek refuge from this visitation, for indeed I deem not well of it;" but the king said, "O desire of hearts, I am your husband's master and I think you know me not." She replied, "Nay, I know you, O my lord and master, and I know your purpose and whatever you want and that you are my husband's lord. I understand what you wish, and indeed the poet has forestalled you in his saying of the verses referring to your case,

'Now will I leave your water way untrod; For many treading that same way I see: When fall the clustering flies upon the food, I raise my hand whate'er my hunger be: And lions eke avoid the water way When dogs to lap at fountain side are free.' "

Then she said, "O king, come you to a watering place at which your dog has drunk and will you drink of it?" The king was abashed at her and at her words and fared forth from her but forgot his sandal in the house. Such was his case; but as regards Firuz, when he went forth from his house, he sought the letter, but found it not in pouch; so he returned home. Now his return fell in with the king's going forth and he came upon the sandal in his house, at which his wit was wildered and he knew that the king had not sent him away save for a device of his own. However, he kept silence and spoke not a word, but, taking the letter, went on his mission and accomplished it and returned to the king, who gave him an hundred dinars. So Firuz betook himself to the bazar and bought what beseems women of goodly gifts and returning to his wife, saluted her and gave her all he had purchased, and said to her, "Arise and hie you to your father's home." she asked, "Why?" and he answered, "truly, the king has been bountiful to me and I would have you make this public, so your father may joy in that which he sees upon you."

She rejoined "With love and gladness," and arising immediately, betook herself to the house of her father, who rejoiced in her coming and in that which he saw upon her; and she abode with him a month's space, and her husband made no mention of her. Then came her brother to him and said, "O Firuz, If you will not acquaint me with the reason of yours anger against your wife, come and plead with us before the king." He said, "If you will have me plead with you, I will even plead." So they went to the king and found the Kazi sitting with him; whereupon the damsel's brother began, "Allah assist our lord the Kazi! I let this man on hire a flower garden, high walled, with a well well conditioned and trees fruit laden; but he beat down its walls and ruined its well and ate its fruits, and now he desires to return it to me." The Kazi turned to Firuz and asked him, "What say you, O youth?" when he answered, "Indeed, I delivered him the garden in better case than it was before." So the Kazi said to the brother, "Has he delivered to you the garden, as he avouches?"

And the pleader replied, "No; but I desire to question him of the reason of his returning it." the Kazi, said, "What say you, O youth?" And Firuz, said, "I returned it willy nilly, because I entered it one day and saw the trail of the lion; so I feared lest If I entered it again, the lion should devour me. Why that which I did, I did of reverence to him and for fear of him." Now the king was leaning back upon the cushion, and when he heard the young man's words, he comprehended the purport of it; so he sat up and said,

King Shah Bakht And His Wazir Al-Rahwan. 127

"Return to your flower garden in all ease of heart; for, By God, never saw I the like of your garth nor stronger of guard than its walls over its trees!" So Firuz returned to his wife, and the Kazi knew not the truth of the affair, no, nor any of those who were in that assembly, save the king and the husband and the wife's brother.