There was once a family of affluence and distinction, in a city of Khorasan, and the townsfolk used to envy them for that which Allah had vouchsafed them. As time went on, their fortune ceased from them and they passed away, till there remained of them but one old woman. When she grew feeble and decrepit, the townsfolk succoured her not with anything, but thrust her forth of the city, saying, "This old woman shall not neighbour with us, for that we do good to her and she requits us with evil." So she took shelter in a ruined place and strangers used to bestow alms upon her, and in this way she tarried a length of time. Now the king of that city had aforetime contended for the kingship with his uncle's son, and the people disliked the king; but Allah Almighty decreed that he should overcome his cousin. However, jealousy of him abode in his heart and he acquainted the Wazir, who hid it not and sent him money. Furthermore, he fell to summoning all strangers who came to the town, man after man, and questioning them of their creed and their goods, and whoever answered him not satisfactory, he took his wealth.

Now a certain wealthy man of the Moslems was way faring, without knowing anything of this, and it befell that he arrived at that city by night, and coming to the ruin, gave the old woman money and said to her, No harm upon you." Whereupon she lifted up her voice and blessed him: so he set down his merchandise by her and abode with her the rest of the night and the next day. Now highwaymen had followed him that they might rob him of his monies, but succeeded not in anything: Why he went up to the old woman and kissed her head and exceeded in bounty to her. Then she warned him of that which awaited strangers entering the town and said to him, "I like not this for you and I fear mischief for you from these questions that the Wazir has appointed for addressing the ignorant." And she expounded to him the case according to its conditions: then she said to him, "But have you no concern: only carry me with you to your lodging, and if he question you of anything enigmatical, whilst I am with you, I will expound the answers to you." So he carried the crone with him to the city and lodged her in his lodging and entreated her

The Merchant, The Crone And The King. 161 honourably. Presently, the Wazir heard of the merchant's coming; so he sent to him and bade bring him to his house and talked with him awhile of his travels and of whatever had befallen him within it, and the merchant answered his queries. Then said the Minister, "I will put certain critical questions to you, which If you answer me, 'twill be well for you," and the merchant rose and made him no answer. the Wazir, said, "What is the weight of the elephant?" The merchant was perplexed and returned him no reply, giving himself up for lost; however, at last he said, "Grant me three days of delay." The minister granted him the time he sought and he returned to his lodging and related what had passed to the old woman, who said, "When the morrow comes, go to the Wazir and say to him, 'Make a ship and launch it on the sea and put in it an elephant, and when it sinks in the water, mark the place whereunto the water rises. Then take out the elephant and cast in stones in its place, till the ship sink to that same mark; whereupon do you take out the stones and weigh them and you will presently know the weight of the elephant."' Accordingly, when he arose in the morning, he went to the Wazir and repeated to him that which the old woman had taught him; at which the Minister marvelled and said to him, "What say you of a man, who sees in his house four holes, and in each hole a viper offering to sally out upon him and slay him, and in his house are four sticks and each hole may not be stopped but with the ends of two sticks? How, then, shall he stop all the holes and deliver himself from the vipers?"

When the merchant heard this, there befell him such concern that it garred him forget the first and he said to the Wazir, "Grant me delay, so I may reflect on the reply"; and the Minister cried, "Go out, and bring me the answer, or I will seize your monies." The merchant fared forth and returned to the old woman who, seeing him changed of complexion, said to him, "What did his hoariness ask you?" So he acquainted her with the case and she cried, "Fear not; I will bring you forth of this strait." He said, "Allah requite you with weal!" Then She said, "Tomorrow go to him with a stout heart and say, 'The answer to that whereof you asks me is this. Put the heads of two sticks into one of the holes; then take the other two sticks and lay them across the middle of the first two and stop with their two heads the second hole and with their ferrules the fourth hole. Then take the ferrules of the first two sticks and stop with them the third hole."' So he repaired to the Wazir and repeated to him the answer; and he marvelled at its justness and said to him, "Go; By God; I will ask you no more questions, for you with your skill marrest my foundation."

Then he treated him as a friend and the merchant acquainted him with the affair of the old woman; whereupon the Wazir, said, "Needs must the intelligent company with the intelligent." Thus did this weak woman restore to that man his life and his monies on the easiest wise; "Nor," continued the Wazir, "is this stranger than the story of the Simpleton Husband." When the king heard this, he said, "How like it must be to this our own case!" Then he bade the Minister retire to his lodging; so he withdrew and on the morrow he abode at home till the king should summon him to his presence.

The Ninth Night of the Month

When the night came, the king sat private in his chamber and sending after the Wazir, sought of him the story; and he said, "Hear, O august king,