He did not stop wayfaring, as become a wanderer, till he came to Cairo city whose circuit was a march of two and a half days and which then was ruled by her own King Mohammed called. He found the folk in safety and prosperity and good ordinance; and he solaced himself by strolling about the streets to the right and left and he diverted his mind by considering the crowds and the world of men contained in the capital, until he drew near the palace when suddenly he sighted the Sultan returning from the chase and from taking his pleasure. Seeing this the Darwaysh retired to the wayside, and the King happening to glance in that direction, saw him standing and discerned in him the signs of former prosperity. So he said to one of his suite, "Take that man with you and entertain him till I send for him." His bidding being obeyed he entered the Palace and, when he had rested from the fatigues of the way, he summoned the Fakir to the presence and questioned him of his condition, saying, "You, from what land are you?" He responded, "O my lord, I am a beggar man;" and the other rejoined, "There is no help but that you tell me what brought you here."

The Darwaysh retorted, "O my lord, this may not be save in privacy," and the other exclaimed, "Be it so for you." The twain then arose and repaired to a retired room in the Palace and the Fakir recounted to the Sultan all that had befallen him since the loss of his kingship and also how he, a Sultan, had given up the throne of his realm and had made himself a Darwaysh. The Sovran marvelled at his self denial in yielding up the royal estate and cried, "Laud be to Him who degrads and upraises, who honours and humbls by the wise ordinance of His Allmight," presently adding, "O Darwaysh, I have passed through an adventure which is marvellous; indeed 'tis one of the Wonders of the World which I needs must relate to you nor from you withhold anything of it." And he fell to telling—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then her sister Dunyazad said, "How sweet and tasteful is your tale, O sister mine, and enjoyable and delectable!" She said, "And where is this compared with what I would relate to you on the coming night if the Sovran permits me to survive?"

Now when it was the next night and that was

Mohammed, Sultan of Cairo. 25

The Three hundred and Forty third Night

DUNYAZAD said to her, "in God's name, O my sister, If you be other than sleepy, finish for us your tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It has reached me,the director, the right guiding, lord of the counsel which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and worthy celebrating, that the King fell to telling the beggar man