me。'
The vizier prostrated himself before the king and wished him continuance of prosperity； saying； 'May God prolong thy days and exalt thy dignity！ Know that I conceal from thee nought； neither in private nor in public； thy pleasure is my pleasure； and thy wrath my wrath。 There is no joy for me but in thy joyance and I cannot sleep； if thou be angered against me； for that God the Most High hath vouchsafed me all good through thy bounties to me； wherefore I beseech Him to guard thee with His angels and make fair thy rewards whenas thou meetest Him。' The king rejoiced in this； and Shimas arose and went out from before him。
In due time the king's wife gave birth to a male child； and the messengers hastened to bear the glad tidings to the king； who rejoiced therein with an exceeding joy and offered up abundant thanks to God； saying； 'Praised be God who hath vouchsafed me a son； after I had despaired！ For He is pitiful and tenderly solicitous over His servants。' Then he wrote to all the people of his dominions； acquainting them with the good news and bidding them to his capital； and great were the rejoicings and festivities in all the kingdom。 So there came amirs and captains and grandees and sages and men of learning and philosophers from all quarters to the palace and presenting themselves before the king； pany after pany； according to their several ranks； gave him joy； and he bestowed largesse upon them。 Then he signed to the seven chief viziers； whose head was Shimas； to speak； each after the measure of his knowledge； upon the matter in question。
So the Grand Vizier Shimas began and sought leave of the king to speak； which being granted； he spoke as follows。 'Praised be God who brought us forth of nothingness into being and who favoureth His servant with kings who observe justice and equity in that wherewith He hath invested them of dominion and deal righteously with that which He appointeth at their hands of provision for their subjects； and especially our king； by whom He hath quickened the deadness of our land； with that which He hath conferred upon us of bounties； and hath blessed us； of His protection； with ease of life and tranquillity and justice！ What king did ever with his people that which this king hath done with us in making provision for our needs and giving us our dues and doing us justice； each of the other； and in unfailing carefulness over us and redress of our grievances？ Indeed； it is of the bounty of God to the people that their king be assiduous in ordering their affairs and in defending them from their enemies； for the end of the enemy's intent is to subdue his enemy and hold him in his hand； and many peoples （145） bring their sons unto kings； servantwise； and they bee with them in the stead of slaves； to the intent that they may repel enemies from them。 （146） As for us； no enemy hath sodden our soil in our king's time； by reason of this great good fortune and exceeding happiness； that none may avail to describe； for indeed it passeth description。 And verily； O king； thou art worthy of this exceeding happiness； and we are under thy safeguard and in the shadow of thy wings； may God make fair thy reward and prolong thy life！
Indeed； we have long been diligent in supplication to God the Most High that He would vouchsafe an answer to our prayers and continue thee to us and grant thee a virtuous son； to be the solace of thine eyes： and now God （blessed and exalted be He！） hath accepted of us and answered our prayer and brought us speedy relief； even as He did to the fishes in the pond of water。' 'And how was that？' asked the king。 'Know； O king；' answered Shimas； 'that
The Fishes and the Crab。
There was once a pond of water； wherein dwelt a number of fish； and it befell that the water of the pond dwindled and shrank away； till there remained barely enough to suffice them and they were nigh upon death and said； 〃What will bee of us？ How shall we do and of whom shall we seek counsel for our deliverance？〃 Quoth one of them； who was the chiefest of them in wit and age； 〃There is nothing will serve us but that we seek deliverance of God； but； e； let us go to the crab and seek his counsel； for indeed he is the chiefest and wisest of us all。〃 They all approved of the fish's advice and betook themselves to the crab； whom they found squatted in his hole； without news or knowledge of their strait。 So they saluted him and said to him； 〃O our lord； doth not our affair concern thee； who art our ruler and our chief？〃 The crab returned their salutation； saying； 〃And on you be peace！ What aileth you and what is your want？〃 So they told him the strait in which they were by reason of the shrinking of the water； and that； when it should be altogether dried up； destruction would betide them。 〃Wherefore；〃 added they； 〃we e to thee； expecting thy counsel； so haply deliverance may be therein； for thou art the chiefest and most experienced of us。〃
The crab bowed his head awhile and said； 〃Doubtless ye lack understanding； in that ye despair of the mercy of God the Most High and His care for the provision of all His creatures。 Know ye not that God （blessed and exalted be He！） provideth all his creatures without stint and that He foreordained their means of livelihood ere He created aught and appointed to each of His creatures a fixed term of life and an allotted provision； of His divine providence？ How then shall we burden ourselves with concern for a thing that is written in His secret purpose？ Wherefore； it is my judgment that ye can do no better than to seek aid of God the Most High； and it behoveth each of us to make clean his conscience with his Lord； both in public and private； and pray Him to succour us and deliver us from our strait； for God the Most High disappointeth not the expectation of those who put their trust in Him and rejecteth not the suit of those who supplicate Him。 When we have mended our ways； our affairs will prosper and all will be well with us； and when the winter eth and our land is deluged； by means of our effectual prayer； He will not undo the good He hath built up。 So it is my counsel that we take patience and await what God shall do with us。 If death e to us； we shall be at rest； and if there befall us aught that calleth for fight； we will flee and depart our land whither God will。〃
〃Thou sayst sooth； O our lord；〃 answered all the fish with one voice。 〃May God requite thee for us with good！〃 Then each returned to his place； and in a few days； God sent them a violent rain and the place of the pond was filled fuller than before。 On like wise； O king；' continued Shimas； 'we despaired of a child being born to thee； and now that God hath vouchsafed unto us and unto thee this blessed son； we implore Him to make him indeed blessed and render him the solace of thine eyes and a worthy successor to thee and grant us of him the like of that which He hath granted us of thee； for God the Most High disappointeth not those that seek Him and it behoveth none to despair of His mercy。'
Then the second vizier rose and saluting the king； spoke as follows： 'Verily； a king is not called a king； save he give gifts and do justice and rule unificence and govern his subjects wisely； maintaining the established law and usages among them and justifying them； one against another； and sparing their blood and warding off hurt from them； and of his qualities should be that he be never unmindful of the poor and that he succour the highest and lowest of them and give them each his due； so that they all bless him and are obedient to his mandment。 Without doubt； a king who is after this wise is beloved of his people and gaih of this world eminence and of the next glory and the favour of the Creator of both worlds。 And we thy subjects acknowledge in thee； O king； all the attributes of kingship I have set out； even as it is said； 〃The best of things is that the king of a people be just and their physician skilful and their teacher experienced； doing according to his knowledge。〃 Now we enjoy this happiness； after we had despaired of the birth of a son to thee； to inherit thy crown； but God （magnified be His name！） hath not disappointed thine expectation； but hath granted thy prayer； by reason of the goodliness of thy trust in Him and thy submission of thine affairs to Him； and there hath betided thee that which betided the crow with the serpent。' 'What was that？' asked the king。 'Know； O king；' replied the vizier； 'that
The Crow and the Serpent。
A crow and his wife once dwelt in a tree； in all delight of life； till they came to the time of the hatching of their young； to wit； the season of midsummer； when a serpent issued from his hole and crawled up the tree； till it came to the crows' nest； where it coiled itself up and there abode all the days of the summer； whilst the crow was driven away and found no place wherein to lie。 When the days of heat were past； the serpent went away to its own place and the crow said to his wife； 〃Let us thank God the Most High； who hath preserved us and delivered us from this serpent； albeit we are forbidden from increase this year。 Yet God will not cut off our hope； so let us thank Him for having vouchsafed us safety and bodily weal； for we have none other in whom to trust； and if He will and we live till next year； He will give us other young in the stead of those we have lost this year。〃
Next year the serpent again sallied forth from its place at the same time and made for the crows' nest： but； as it climbed up the tree； a kite swooped down on it and struck his claws into its head and tore it； whereupon it fell to the ground； senseless； and the ants came out upon it and devoured it。 So the crow and his wife abode in peace and quiet and reared a numerous brood and thanked God for their safety and for the young that were born to them。 In like manner； O king；' continued the vizier； 'it behoveth us to thank God for that wherewith He hath favoured us and thee in vouchsafing us this happy and blessed child； after despair and hope cut off。 May He make fair thy reward and the issue of thine affair！'
Then rose the third vizier and said； 'Rejoice； O just king； in the assurance of present prosperity and future felicity； （147） for him； whom the people of the earth love； the people of heaven love also； and indeed God the Most High hath made love to be thy portion and hath stablished it in the hearts of the people of thy kingdom； wherefore to Him be thanks and praise from us and from thee； so He may redouble in His bounty to thee and to us in thee！ For know； O king； that man can nought but by mandment of God the Most High and that He is the Giver and all good that befalleth a creature hath its ＇origin and＇ issue in Him。 He allotteth His favours to His creatures； as it liketh Him； to some He giveth store of gifts and others may hardly get their daily bread。 Some He maketh lords and captains； and others recluses； who abstain from the world and aspire but to Him； for He it is who saith； 〃I am He who harmeth and who advantageth； I make whole and make sick； I enrich and impoverish； I slay and quicken； in my hand is everything and all things have their issue in Me。〃 Wherefore it behoveth all folk to praise Him。
Thou； O king； art of the fortunate pious men of whom it is said； 〃The happiest of the just is