There was once a king of the kings of the earth, who dwelt in a flourishing city, abounding in good; but he wronged its people and entreated them foully, so that he ruined the city; and he was named nothing else but tyrant and oppressor. Now he was wont, whenas he heard of a violent man in another land, to send after him and lure him with lucre to take service with him; and there was a certain Tither, who exceeded all other Tithers in oppression of the people and foul dealing. So the king sent after him and when he stood before him, he found him a man of mighty fine presence and said to him, "You have been described to me, but I see you surpassest the description. Set out to me some of your doings and sayings, so I may be dispensed therewith from enquiring into the whole of your case."

Tale Of The Unjust King And The Tither. 165

Answered the other, "With all my heart! Know, O King, that I oppress the folk and people the land, whilst other than I ruins it and peopls it not." Now the king was leaning back: but presently he sat upright and said, "Tell me of this." The Tither replied, " 'Tis well: I go to the man whom I purpose to tithe and cozen him and feign to be busied with certain business, so that I seclude myself therewith from the people; and meanwhile the man is squeezed with the foulest of extortion, till nothing of money is left him. Then I appear and they come in to me and questions arise concerning him and I say, 'Indeed, I was ordered worse than this, for some one (may Allah curse him!) has slandered him to the king.' Presently, I take half of his good and return him the rest publicly before the folk and dismiss him to his house, in all honour and worship, and he garrs the money returned be carried before him, whilst he blesses me and all who are with him also bless me. So is it bruited abroad in the city that I have restored to him his monies and he himself notifies the like, to the intent that he may have a claim on me for the favour due to those who praise me. in this way I keep half his property.

Then I seem to forget him till the year has passed over him, when I send for him and recall to him something of that which has befallen aforetime and require of him something of money in secret; accordingly he does this and hastens to his house and forwards whatever I bid him, with a contented heart. Then I send to another man, between whom and the first is enmity, and lay hands upon him and feign to the other man that it is he who has slandered him to the king and has taken the half of his good; and the people praise me." The King wondered at this and at his wily dealing and clever contrivance and made him controller of all his affairs and of his kingdom and the land was placed under his governance, and he said to him, "Take and people. "One day, the Tither went out and saw an old man, a woodcutter, and with him wood; so he said to him, "Pay a dirham tithe for your load." the Shaykh, said, "Behold, you killest me and killest my family;" and the Tither, said, "What? Who kills the folk?" And the oldster answered, "If you let me enter the city, I shall there sell the load for three dirhams, whereof I will give you one and buy with the other two silvers what will support my family; but, If you press me for the tithe outside the city, the load will sell but for one dirham and you will take it and I shall abide without food, I and my family. Indeed, you and I in this circumstance are like unto David and Solomon (on the twain be the Peace!)" "How so?" asked the Tither, and the woodcutter answered, "Do you hear