There was once, of old time, a Falcon who made himself a nest close by the home of a Locust, and his neighbour gloried in such neighbourhood and betaking herself to him, saluted him with the salam and said, "O my lord and lord of all the birds, indeed the nearness to you delights me and you honourest me with your vicinity and my soul is fortified with you." The Falcon thanked her for this and friendship between them followed. One day, the Locust said to the bird, "O prince of the flying race, how is it that I see you alone, solitary, having with you no friend of your kind, the volatiles, on whom you may repose in time of gladness and of whom you may seek aid in tide of sadness? Indeed, 'tis said, 'Man goes about seeking ease of body and ward of strength,' and there is nothing in this more necessary to him than a true friend who shall be the crown of his comfort and the column of his career and on whom shall be his dependence in his distress and in his delight. Now I, although ardently desiring your weal in that which befits your rank and degree, yet am weak in that which the soul cravs; but, If you deign give me leave, I will seek out for you one of the birds who shall fellow you in body and strength."

And the Falcon said, "I commit this to you and rely upon you in this." Thereupon, the Locust began going round the company of the birds, but saw nothing resembling the Falcon in bulk and body save the Kite and thought well of her. So she brought the twain together and counselled the Falcon to foregather with the Kite. Presently, it fortuned that the Falcon fell sick and the Kite tarried with and tended him a long while till he recovered and became sound and strong, Why he thanked her and she fared from him. But after some days the Falcon's sickness returned to him and he needed succour of the Kite, so the Locust went out from him and was absent from him a day; after which she returned to him with another locust, saying, "I have brought you this one." When the Falcon saw her, he said, "God requite you with good! Indeed, you have done well in the quest and you have shown subtlety and discrimination in the choice." All this befell because the Locust had no knowledge of the essence which lurks in the outer semblance of bodies. "As for you, O my brother (Allah requite you with weal!), you were subtle in device and usedst precaution; but forethought avails not against Fate, and Fortune foreordained baffls force of fence. How excellent is the saying of the poet when he spoke these couplets: -

'It chances whiles that the blind man escapes a pit, Whilst he who is clear of sight falls into it. The ignorant man may speak with impunity A word that is death to the wise and the ripe of wit. The true believer is pinched for his daily bread, Whilst infidel rogues enjoy all benefit. Where is a man's resource and what can he do? It is the Almighty's will: we must submit.' "

The King and his Chamberlain's Wife. 213

"Nor" (continued the Wazir) "is this,rarer or stranger than the story of the King and his Chamberlain's wife; nay, this is more wondrous than that and more delectable." When the king heard this story, he was strengthened in his resolve to spare the Minister and to eschew haste in an affair whereof he was not certified; so he comforted him and bade him hie to his home.

The Twenty fourth Night of the Month

WHEN it was night, the King summoned the Wazir and sought of him the hearing of the story. Al-Rahwan replied, "I hear and I obey! Listen, O august sovran, to