pleasure； whose end is corruption and whose inclining is unto sore and uttermost perdition。'
When the king heard this； he said to Shimas； 'Tomorrow I will e forth to them； if it be the will of God the Most High。' So Shimas returned to the grandees and notables who were present and told them what the king had said。 But this came to the ears of the favourite； so she went in to the king and said to him； 'A king's subjects should be his slaves； but thou art bee a slave to thy subjects； for that thou standest in awe of them and fearest their mischief。 They do but seek to make proof of thy temper； and if they find thee weak they will disdain thee； but； if they find thee stout and brave they will stand in awe of thee。 On this wise do ill viziers with their king； for that their wiles are many： but I will make manifest unto thee the truth of their malice。 If thou fall in with their demands； they will cause thee leave thy mandment and do their will； nor will they cease to lead thee on from affair to affair till they cast thee into destruction； and thy case will be as that of the merchant and the thieves。' 'How was that？' asked the king； and she answered； 'I have heard tell that
The Merchant and the Thieves。
There was once a wealthy merchant； who set out for a certain city with merchandise； purposing to sell it there； and when he came thither； he hired a lodging there and took up his abode therein。 Now certain thieves saw him； who were wont to lie in wait for merchants； that they might steal their goods； so they went to his house and cast about to enter in； but could find no way thereto； and their captain said； 〃I will acplish you his affair。〃 Then he went away and donning a physician's habit； threw over his shoulder a bag containing medicines； with which he set out； crying； 〃Who lacks a doctor？〃 and fared on till he came to the merchant's lodging and saw him sitting eating the morning meal。 So he said to him； 〃Dost thou want a physician？〃 〃Not I；〃 answered the merchant； 〃but sit and eat with me。〃 So the thief sat down over against him and began to eat。
Now this merchant was a great eater； and the thief； seeing this； said to himself； 〃I have found my opportunity。〃 So he turned to his host and said to him； 〃It behoveth me to give thee an admonition； and after thy kindness to me； I cannot hide it from thee。 I see thee to be a great eater and the cause of this is a disorder in thy stomach； so hasten to take order for thy cure； or thine affair will end in perdition。' Quoth the merchant； 〃My body is sound and my stomach quick of digestion； and though I be a hearty eater； yet is there no disease in me； to God be the praise and the thanks！〃 〃It may so appear unto thee；〃 rejoined the thief； 〃but I know thou hast a latent disorder in thy vitals and if thou hearken to me； thou wilt medicine thyself。' 〃And where shall I find him who knoweth my remedy？〃 asked the merchant。 〃God is the Healer；〃 answered the robber； 〃but a physician like myself tendeth the sick to the best of his power。〃 And the other said； 〃Show me my remedy and give me thereof。〃 So he gave him a powder； wherein was great plenty of aloes； saying； 〃Use this tonight。〃
When the night came； the merchant tasted the powder and found it nauseous of taste； nevertheless he misdoubted not of it； but swallowed it all and found ease therefrom that night。 Next night the thief brought him another powder； wherein was yet more aloes； and he took it。 It purged him that night； but he bore with this and rejected it not。 When the thief saw that he gave ear unto his word and put trust in him； he brought him a deadly drug and gave it to him。 The merchant swallowed it and no sooner had he done this than that which was in his belly fell down and his guts were rent in sunder； and by the morrow he was a dead man； whereupon the thieves came and took all that belonged to him。 This；' added the favourite； 'I tell thee； O king； but that thou mayst not give ear to these deluders； else will there befall thee that whereby thou wilt destroy thyself。' 〃Thou sayst sooth；' replied the king； 'I will not go forth to them。'
On the morrow； the folk assembled together and repairing to the king's door； sat there the most part of the day； till they despaired of his ing forth； when they returned to Shimas and said to him； 'O sage philosopher and learned master； seest thou not that this ignorant boy doth but redouble in falsehood to us？ Verily it were of reason to take the kingdom from him and give it to another； so our affairs may be set in order and our estates maintained； but go thou in to him a third time and tell him that nought hindereth us from rising against him and taking the kingship from him but ＇the remembrance＇ of his father's goodness to us and that us of oaths and engagements ＇with respect to him＇。 However； tomorrow； we will all； to the last of us； assemble here with our arms and break down the gate of the palace； and if he e forth to us and do that which we wish； well and good； else will we go in to him and slay him and put the kingdom in another's hand。'
So Shimas went in to him and said； 'O king； that wallowest in thy lusts and thy pleasures； what is this thou dost with thyself and who promptest thee thereunto？ Indeed； thou sinnest against thyself and there hath ceased from thee that which we knew in thee aforetime of integrity and wisdom and eloquence。 Would I knew who hath thus changed thee and turned thee from wisdom to folly and from fidelity to iniquity and from plaisance to stiffneckedness and from acceptance of me to aversion from me！ How es it that I admonish thee thrice and thou neglectest my admonition and that I counsel thee justly and thou still gainsayest my counsel？ Tell me； what is this heedlessness and folly and who is it prompteth thee thereunto？ Know that the people of thy kingdom have agreed together to e in to thee and slay thee and give thy kingdom to another。 Art thou able to cope with them all and save thyself from their hands or canst thou quicken thyself after slaughter？ If； indeed； thou availest to do all this； thou art safe and hast no occasion for my rede； but； if thou have any concern for thy life and thy kingship； return to thy senses and hold fast thy kingdom and show forth to the people the power of thy prowess and acquaint the folk with thine excuse； for they are minded to tear away that which is in thy hand and mit it unto another； being resolved upon revolt and rebellion； impelled thereto by that which they know of thy youth and thy surrender of thyself to lusts and voluptuousness； for that stones； albeit they lie long in water； if thou take them out therefrom and smite one upon another； fire will be struck from them。 Now thy subjects are many in number and they have taken counsel together against thee； to transfer the kingship from thee to another and acplish upon thee that which they desire of thy destruction。 So shalt thou fare as did the wolf with the foxes and the lion。' 'How was that？' asked the king； and the vizier answered； 'They say that
The Foxes and the Wolf。
A troop of foxes went out one day to seek food； and as they coasted about in quest of this； they happened upon a dead camel and said to each other； 〃Verily we have found wherewithal we may live a great while； but we fear lest one of us oppress other and the strong overbear the weak with his strength； and so the weak of us perish； wherefore it behoveth us seek one who shall judge between us and appoint unto each his part； so the strong may not lord it over the weak。〃 As they consulted together； up came a wolf； and some of the foxes said to the others； 〃Your counsel is just； let us make this wolf judge between us； for he is the strongest of beasts and his father was sultan over us aforetime； wherefore we hope in God that he will do justice between us。〃 So they accosted the with their determination； said to him； 〃We make thee judge between us； so thou mayst allot unto each of us his day's meat； after the measure of his need； lest the strong of us overbear the weak and some of us destroy other some。〃
The wolf consented to take the governance of their affairs and allotted unto each of them what sufficed him that day； but on the morrow he said in himself； 〃If I divide this camel amongst these weaklings； no part thereof will e to me； save that which they assign to me； and if I eat it alone； they can do me no hurt； seeing that they are a prey to me and to the people of my house。 Who shall hinder me from taking it for myself？ Surely； it is God who hath bestowed it on me； by way of provision； and no thanks to them。 It were best that I keep it for myself； and henceforth I will give them nought。〃 Accordingly； when the foxes came to him； as of wont； and sought of him their food； saying； 〃O Abou Sirhan； （180） give us our day's provender；〃 he answered； 〃I have nothing left to give you。〃 Whereupon they went away in the sorriest case； saying； 〃Verily； God hath cast us into grievous trouble with this vile traitor； that feareth not God neither respecteth Him； but we have neither power nor resource。〃 But one of them said； 〃Belike it was but stress of hunger that moved him to this； so let him eat his fill today； and tomorrow we will go to him again。〃
So； on the morrow； they again betook themselves to the wolf and said to him； 〃O Abou Sirhan； we set thee in authority over us； that thou mightest allot unto each of us his day's meat and do the weak justice against the strong of us and that； when this （181） is finished； thou shouldst do thine endeavour to get us other and so we be still under thy safeguard and protection。 Now hunger is sore upon us； for that we have not eaten these two days； so do thou give us our day's meat and thou shalt be free to dispose of the rest as thou wilt。〃 But the wolf returned them no answer and redoubled in his stiffneckedness。 So they strove to turn him from his purpose； but he would not be turned。 Then said one of the foxes to the rest； 〃Nothing will serve us but that we go to the lion and cast ourselves on his protection and assign the camel unto him。 If he vouchsafe us aught thereof it will be of his bounty； and if not； he is worthier of it than this filthy fellow。〃
So they betook themselves to the lion and acquainted him with that which had betided them with the wolf； saying； 〃We are thy servants and e to thee； imploring thy protection； so thou mayst deliver us from this wolf； and we will be thy slaves。〃 When the lion heard their story； he was jealous for God the Most High and went with them in quest of the wolf； who； seeing him making for him； addressed himself to flight； but the lion ran after him and seizing him； rent him in pieces and restored their prey to the foxes。 This shows；' added Shimas； 'that it behoveth no king to neglect the affairs of his subjects； wherefore do thou hearken to my counsel and give credit to that which I say to thee； for thou knowest that thy father； before his decease； charged thee give ear unto loyal counsel。 This is the last of my speech with thee and peace be on thee。' Quoth the king； 'I will hearken to thee and tomorrow； God willing； I will go forth to them。'
So Shimas went forth from him and returning to the Folk； told them that the king had accepted his counsel and promised to e out unto them on the morrow。 But； when the favourite heard this