of my father's friends that our king put his viziers and ministers to death； without offence done of them； by reason of his love for women and inclination to them； for that his viziers forbade him from this； but he would not be forbidden and manded to slay them； in obedience to his women。 Thus he killed Shimas my father； who was his vizier and the vizier of his father before him and the chief of his council； but thou shalt see how God will do with him by reason of his sins against them and how He shall avenge them of him。' 'How so？' asked the first boy。
'Know；' replied his fellow； 'that the King of Farther India maketh light of our king and hath sent him a letter； rating him and saying to him； 〃Build me a castle amiddleward the sea； or I will send unto thee Bediya my vizier； with twelve squadrons of horse； each twelve thousand strong； to seize upon thy kingdom and slay thy men and take thee and thy women prisoners。〃 And he hath given him three days' time to answer。 Now thou must know； O my brother； that this King of Farther India is a masterful tyrant； a man of might and exceeding prowess； and in his realm are much people； wherefore； except our king make shift to fend him off from himself； he will fall into perdition； whilst the King of Hind will seize on our possessions and slay our men and make prize of our women。〃 When the king heard this talk； his agitation redoubled and he inclined to the boys； saying； 'Surely； this boy is a wizard； in that he is acquainted with this thing； for the letter is with me and the secret also and none hath knowledge of this matter but myself。 How then knoweth this boy of it？ I will resort unto him and talk with him and I pray God that our deliverance may be at his hand。'
Then he approached the boy softly and said to him； 'O dear boy； what is this thou sayest of our king； that he did ill to the utterest in slaying his viziers and the chiefs of his state？ Indeed； he sinned against himself and his people and thou art right in that which thou sayest。 But tell me； O my son； whence knowest thou that the King of Farther India hath written him a letter； berating him and bespeaking him with the grievous speech whereof thou tellest？' 'O brother；' answered the boy； 'I know this from the sand （184） wherewith I tell the tale of night and day and from the saying of the ancients； 〃No mystery is hidden from God；〃 for the sons of Adam have in them a spiritual virtue which discovers to them hidden secrets。' 'True； O my son；' answered Wird Khan； 'but whence learnedly thou the ＇art of divination by＇ sand； and thou young of years？' Quoth the boy； 'My father taught it me；' and the king said； 'Is thy father alive or dead？' 'He is dead；' answered the boy。
Then said Wird Khan； 'Is there any resource or device for our king； whereby he may ward off this sore calamity from himself and his kingdom？' And the boy answered； 'It befits not that I speak with thee ＇of this＇； but； if the king send for me and ask me how he shall do to baffle his enemy and win free of his snares； I with that wherein； by the power of God the Most High； shall be his deliverance。' 'But who shall tell the king of this；' asked Wird Khan； 'that he may send for thee？' Quoth the boy； 'If I hear that he seeketh men of experience and good counsel； I will go up with them to him and tell him that wherein shall be his welfare and the warding off of this affliction from him； but； if he neglect this pressing matter and busy himself with his pleasures among his women and I go to him of my own motion； purposing to acquaint him with the means of deliverance； he will assuredly give orders to slay me； even as he slew those his viziers； and my courtesy to him will be the cause of my destruction； wherefore the folk will think meanly of me and belittle my wit and I shall be of those of whom it is said； 〃He whose learning exceeds his wit perishes by his ignorance。〃'
When the king heard the boy's speech； he was assured of his sagacity and the excellence of his merit was manifest unto him。 So he was certified that deliverance would betide him and his subjects at the boy's hands and said to him； 'Whence art thou and where is thy house？' 'This is the wall of our house；' answered he。 The king took note of the place and leaving the boy； returned to his palace； rejoicing。 There he changed his clothes and called for meat and drink； forbidding his women access to him。 Then he ate and drank and returned thanks to God the Most High and besought Him of succour and deliverance。 Moreover he craved His pardon and fiveness for that which he had done with his counsellors of state and ministers and turned to Him with sincere repentance； imposing on himself prayer and fasting galore； by way of votive offering。
On the morrow； he called one of his chief officers and describing to him the boy's abidingplace； bade him go thither and bring him to his presence with all gentleness So the officer sought out the boy and said to him； 'The king bids thee to him； that good may betide thee from him and that he may ask thee a question； then shalt thou return in peace to thy dwelling。' 'What is the king's occasion with me？' asked the boy； and the officer said； 'My lord's occasion with thee is question and answer。' 'A thousand times hearkening and a thousand times obedience to the mandment of the king！' answered the boy and acpanied the officer to the palace。 When he came into the presences he prostrated himself before God and saluting the king； called down blessings on him。 Wird Khan returned his salutation and bade him sit。 So he sat down and the king said to him； 'Knowst thou who walked with thee yesternight？' 'Yes；' answered the boy； and the king said； 'And where is he？' 'It is he who speaketh with me at this present；' replied the boy。 'Thou sayst sooth； O friend；' rejoined the king and bade set him a chair beside his own； whereon he made him sit and called for meat and drink。
Then they talked awhile and the king said； 'O vizier； （185） thou toldest me yesternight that thou hadst a device wherewith thou couldst fend off from us the malice of the King of Hind。 What is this device and how shall we contrive to ward off his mischief from us？ Tell me； that I may make thee chief of those who speak with me in the realm and choose thee to be my vizier and do according to thy judgment in all thou counsellest me and assign thee a splendid repense。' 'O king；' answered the boy； 'keep thy repense to thyself and seek counsel and policy of thy women； who counselled thee to slay my father Shimas and the rest of the viziers。' When the king heard this； he was confounded and sighed and said； 'O dear boy； was Shimas indeed thy father？' 'Yes；' answered the boy； 'Shimas was indeed my father and I am in truth his son。' Whereupon the king bowed his head； whilst the tears ran from his eyes； and he craved pardon of God。
Then said he； 'O boy； indeed I did this of my ignorance and by the evil counsel of the women and of the greatness of their malice； but I beseech thee to five me and I wilt set thee in thy father's stead and make thy rank higher than his。 Moreover； if thou do away this retribution from us； I will encircle thy neck with a collar of gold and mount thee on the goodliest of steeds and bid the crier make proclamation before thee； saying； 〃This is the glorious boy； he who sitteth in the second seat after the king！〃 As for the women； I have it in mind to do vengeance on them at such time as God the Most High shall will it。 But tell me now what thou hast with thee of counsel and contrivance； that my heart may be at ease。' Quoth the boy； 'Swear to me that thou wilt not gainsay me in that which I shall say to thee and that I shall be in safety from that which I fear。' And the king answered； 'This is the covenant of God between thee and me； that I will not go from thy word and that thou shalt be my chief counsellor and whatsoever thou biddest me； that will I do； and God the Most High is witness betwixt us of what I say。'
Therewith the boy's breast dilated and the field of speech was opened to him wide and he said； 'O king； my counsel to thee is that thou wait till the expiration of the delay appointed by thee for returning an answer to the courier of the King of Hind； and when he eth to thee； seeking the answer； do thou put him off to another day。 With this he will excuse himself to thee； on the score of his master having appointed him certain fixed days； and press thee for an answer； but do thou rebut him and put him off to another day； without specifying it。 Then will he go forth from thee； angry； and betake himself into the midst of the city and speak openly among the folk； saying； 〃O people of the city； I am a courier of the King of Farther India； who is a king of great might and of determination such as softeh iron。 He sent me with a letter to the king of this city and limited unto me certain days； saying； 'An thou be not with me by the time appointed； my vengeance shall fall on thee。' Now； behold； I went in to the king of this city and gave him the letter； which when he had read； he sought of me a delay of three days； after which he should return me an answer thereto； and I agreed to this of courtesy and consideration for him。 When the three days were past； I went to seek the answer of him； but he put me off to another day； and now I have no patience to wait longer； so I am about to return to my lord the King of Farther India and acquaint him with that which hath befallen me； and ye； O folk； are witnesses between me and him。〃
This will be reported to thee and do thou send for him and bespeak him gently and say to him； 〃O thou that strivest for thine own destruction； what moveth thee to blame us among our subjects？ Verily； thou deservest present death at our hands； but the ancients say； 'Clemency is of the attributes of the noble。' Know that our delay in answering thy master's letter arose not from neglect on our part； but from our much business and lack of leisure to look into thine affair and write a reply to thy king。〃 Then call for the letter and read it again and laugh immoderately and say to the courier； 〃Hast thou a letter other than this？ If so； we will write thee an answer to that also。〃 He will say； 〃I have none other than this letter；〃 but do thou repeat thy question to him a second and a third time； and he will reply； 〃I have none other at all。〃 Then say to him； 〃Verily； this thy king lacketh wit in that he writeth us the like of this letter； seeking to arouse our anger against him； so that we shall go forth to him with our troops and invade his dominions and take his realm。 But we will not punish him this time for the vileness of his breeding； ＇as shown＇ in this letter； for that he is scant of wit and weak of judgment； and it beseemeth our dignity that we first admonish him and warn him not to repeat the like of these extravagances； and if he again adventure himself and return to the like of this； he will merit present destruction。 Indeed； methinks this king of thine must be an ignorant fool； taking no thought to the issue ＇of that he doth＇ and having no vizier of sense and good counsel； with whom he may advise。 Were he a man of sense； he had taken counsel with a vizier； before sending us the like of this ridiculous letter。 But he shall have an answer like unto his letter and overpassing it； for I wi