write an answer to their king's letter。
So the boy wrote an answer； wherein； after an elegant exordium； he touched briefly on the question of reconciliation and praised the good breeding of the envoy and of his men； and showed it to the king； who said to him； 'Read it； O dear boy； that we may know what is written therein。' So the boy read the letter in the presence of the hundred horse； and the king and all present marvelled at the excellence of its style and sense。 Then the king sealed the letter and delivering it to the captain of the hundred horse； dismissed him with an escort of his own troops； to bring him to the frontier of his country。 So the captain returned； confounded at that which he had seen of the boy's knowledge and sagacity and thanking God for the speedy acplishment of his errand and the acceptance of ＇the proffered＇ peace； to the King of Farther India； to whom he delivered the presents and the letter； telling him what he had seen and heard； whereat the king was mightily rejoiced and returned thanks to God the Most High and honoured the envoy； lauding his care and zeal and advancing him in rank： and he was thenceforth in peace and tranquillity and all contentment。
As for King Wird Khan； he returned to the way of righteousness； abandoning his evil courses and turning to God with sincere repentance； and he altogether forswore women and devoted himself to the ordering of the affairs of his realm and the governance of his people in the fear of God。 Moreover； he made the son of Shimas vizier in his father's room and the chief of his counsellors and keeper of his secrets and manded to decorate his capital and the other cities of his kingdom seven days。 At this the subjects rejoiced； glad in the prospect of justice and equity； and fear and alarm ceased from them and they were instant in prayer for the king and for the vizier who had done away this trouble from him and them。
Then said the king to the vizier； 'What is thy counsel for the proper ordering of the state and the prospering of the people and the furnishing of the realm anew with captains and counsellors as before？' 'O king of high estate；' answered the boy； 'in my judgment； it behoves； before all； that thou began by tearing out from thy heart the root of frowardness and leave thy debauchery and tyranny and devotion to women； for； if thou return to the root of transgression； the second backsliding will be worse than the first。' 'And what；' asked the king； 'is the root of frowardness that it behoves me to tear out from my heart？' 'O mighty king；' answered the vizier； little of years but great of wit； 'the root of frowardness is the ensuing the desire of women and inclining to them and following their counsel and policy； for the love of them troubles the soundest wit and corrupts the most upright nature； and manifest proofs bear witness to my saying； wherein； if thou meditate them and consider their actions and the consequences thereof with eyes intent； thou wilt find a loyal counsellor against thine own soul and wilt stand in no need of my advice。
Look then； thou occupy not thy heart with the thought of women and do away the trace of them from thy mind； for that God the Most High hath forbidden the excessive use of them by the mouth of His prophet Moses； so that quoth a certain wise king to his son； 〃O my son； when thou succeedest to the throne after me； spare to frequent women overmuch； lest thy heart be led astray and thy judgment corrupted； for that their much frequentation leadeth to love of them； and love of them to corruption of judgment。〃 And the proof of this is what befell our lord Solomon； son of David （peace be upon them both！） whom God endowed with knowledge and wisdom and supreme dominion above all men； nor vouchsafed He to any of the kings of old time the like of that which He gave him； and women were the cause of his father's offending。
The examples of this are many； O king； and I do but make mention of Solomon to thee for that thou knowest that to none was given the like of the dominion wherewith he was invested； so that all the kings of the earth obeyed him。 Know then； O king； that the love of women is the root of all evil and none of them hath any judgment： wherefore it behoveth a man to confine his use of them within the limits of necessity and not incline to them altogether； for that will cause him fall into corruption and perdition。 If thou hearken to my rede； all thine affairs will prosper； but； if thou neglect it； thou wilt repent； whenas repentance will not avail thee。'
'Indeed；' answered the king； 'I have left my sometime inclination to women and have altogether renounced my infatuation for them； but how shall I do to punish them for that which they have done？ For the slaying of thy father Shimas was of their malice and not of my own will； and I know not what ailed my reason that I fell in with their proposal to kill him。'
Then he cried out and groaned and lamented； saying； 'Alas for the loss of my vizier and his just judgment and wise ordinance and for the loss of his like of the viziers and notables of the state and of the goodliness of their apt and sagacious counsels！' 'O king；' said the young vizier； 'know that the fault is not with women alone； for that they are like unto a pleasing modity； whereto the desires of the beholders incline。 To whosoever desireth and buyeth； they sell it； but whoso buyeth not； none forceth him thereto； so that the fault is his who buyeth； especially if he know the harmfulness of the modity。 Now； I warn thee； as did my father before me； but thou hearkenedst not to his counsel。' 'O vizier；' answered the king； 'indeed thou hast fixed this fault upon me； even as thou hast said； and I have no excuse except the Divine ordinances。' 'O king；' rejoined the vizier； 'know that God hath created us and endowed us with ableness （188） and appointed to us will and choice； so； if we will； we do； and if we will； we do not。 God mandeth us not to do harm； lest sin attach to us； wherefore it behoveth us to consider that which it is right to do； for that the Most High mandeth us nought but good in all cases and forbiddeth us only from evil； but what we do； we do of our free will； be it right or wrong。'
Quoth the king； 'Thou sayst truly； and indeed my fault arose from my surrendering myself to my lusts； albeit many a time my reason warned me from this and thy father Shimas often warned me likewise； but my lusts carried it over my reason。 Hast thou then with thee aught that may ＇in the future＇ withhold me from mitting this error and whereby my reason may be victorious over the lusts of my soul？' 'Yes；' answered the vizier。 'I can tell thee what will restrain thee from mitting this error； and it is that thou put off the garment of ignorance and don that of understanding； disobeying thy passions and obeying thy Lord and reverting to the policy of the just king thy father； fulfilling thy duties to God the Most High and to thy people； applying thyself to the defence of thy faith and the promotion of thy subjects' welfare； governing thyself aright and forbearing the slaughter of thy people。
Look to the issues of things and sever thyself from tyranny and oppression and arrogance and lewdness； practising justice and equity and humility and obeying the mandments of God the Most High； applying thyself to gentle dealing with those of His creatures whom He hath mitted to thy governance and being assiduous in fulfilling their prayers unto thee； in accordance with that which is incumbent on thee。 If thou be constant in the practice of these virtues； may thy days be serene and may God of His mercy spare thee and make thee revered of all who look on thee； so shall thine energies be brought to nought； for God the Most High shall put their hosts to the rout； and thou shalt have acceptance with Him and be loved and reverenced of His creatures。'
'Verily；' said the king； 'thou hast quickened mine entrails and enlightened my heart with thy sweet speech and hast opened the eyes of mine understanding； after blindness； and I am resolved to do all thou hast set forth to me； with the help of God the Most High； leaving my former estate of lust and frowardness and bringing forth my soul from duresse into freedom and from fear into safety。 It behoveth thee； then； to be joyful and contented； for that I； for all my greater age； am bee to thee as a son； and thou to me as a dear father； for all thy tenderness of years； and it is grown incumbent on me to do my utmost endeavour in that thou mandest me。
Wherefore I thank the bounty of God the Most High and thy bounty for that He hath vouchsafed me； by thee； fair fortune and good guidance and just judgment to fend off my trouble and anxiety； and the deliverance of my people hath been brought about by means of the excellence of thy skill and the goodliness of thine ordinance。 Henceforward； thou shalt be the governor of my kingdom and equal to myself in all but sitting upon the throne； and all that thou dost shall be law to me and none shall gainsay thy word； young in years though thou be； for that thou art old in wit and knowledge。 So I thank God who hath vouchsafed thee to me； that thou mayst guide me out of the crooked paths of perdition into the way of righteousness。'
Quoth the vizier； 'O august king； know that no merit is due to me for giving thee loyal counsel； for that to succour thee by deed and word is of that which is incumbent on me； seeing that I am but a plant of thy bounty； nor I alone； but my father before me was overwhelmed with thy favours； so that we are both alike partakers in thy munificence； and how shall we not acknowledge this？ Moreover thou； O king； art our shepherd and ruler and he who wards off our enemies from us and to whom is mitted our protection and our guardian； instant in endeavour for our safety。 Indeed； though we lavished our lives in thy service； yet should we not fulfil that which behoveth us of gratitude to thee； but we supplicate God the Most High； who hath set thee in dominion over us and made thee our ruler； and beseech Him to vouchsafe thee long life and success in all thine enterprises and not to try thee with afflictions in thy time； but bring thee to thy desire and make thee to be reverenced till the day of thy death and lengthen thine arms in beneficence and generosity； so thou mayst have mandment over every wise man and subdue every froward one and all men of wisdom and mettle be found with thee in thy realm and all the ignorant and fainthearted be plucked out therefrom； and we pray Him to withhold from thy people scarcity and misfortune and sow among them love and good fellowship and cause them to enjoy of this world its prosperity and of the next its felicity； of His grace and bounty and hidden mercies。 Amen。 For He can all things and there is nought difficult unto Him； in whom all things have their goal and glace of returning。'
When the king heard the vizier's prayers he was mightily rejoiced thereat and inclined to him with his whole heart； saying； 'Henceforth； O vizier； thou art to me in the stead of brother and son and father； and nought but death shall sever me from thee。 Thou shalt have the disposal of all that my hand possesses； and if I have no child to succeed me； thou shalt sit on my throne in my stead； for thou art the worthiest of all t