no child to succeed me； thou shalt sit on my throne in my stead； for thou art the worthiest of all the people of my realm； and I will invest thee with my kingship and appoint thee my heir presumptive to inherit the kingdom after me； if it be the will of God the Most High； in the presence of the grandees of my state； and will them to witness thereof。'
Then he called his secretary and bade him write to all the notables of his kingdom； summoning them to his court； and caused proclamation to be made in his city unto all the townsfolk great and small； bidding all the amirs and governors and chamberlains and other officers and dignitaries； as well as the sages and doctors of the law； to his presence。 Moreover he held a grand divan and made a banquet； never was its like； and bade all the folks high and low； thereto。 So they all assembled and abode in eating and drinking and delight a month's space； after which the king clothed all his household and the poor of his kingdom and bestowed abundant largesse on the men of learning。
Then he chose out a number of the sages and wise men； by counsel of the son of Shimas； and caused them go in to him； bidding him choose out six of them； that he might make them viziers under his mandment。 So he chose out six of the oldest of them in years and the most acplished of them in understanding and knowledge and the speediest of memory and judgment； and presented them to the king； who clad them in the vizier's habit and said to them； 'Ye are bee my viziers； under the mandment of this my chief vizier； the son of Shimas。 Whatsoever he saith to you or biddeth you thereto； ye shall not in anywise depart from it； albeit he is the youngest of you in years； for he is the eldest of you in wit。'
Then he seated them upon chairs； adorned with gold； after the usage of viziers； and appointed unto them stipends and allowances； bidding them choose out such of the notables of the kingdom and officers of the troops present at the banquet as were most fit for the service of the state； that he might make them captains of tens and hundreds and thousands and appoint to them dignities and assign them provision； after the manner of grandees。 This they did with all diligence and he bade them also handsel all who were present with largesse galore and dismiss them each to his country with honour and worship。 Moreover he charged his governors rule the people with justice and enjoined them to be tenderly solicitous for rich and poor and bade succour them from the treasury； according to their several degrees。 So the viziers wished him continuance of glory and long life； and he manded to decorate the city three days； in gratitude to God the Most High for His mercies。
When the court was dissolved and all the people had departed； each to his own place； after their affairs had been set in order； the king summoned the son of Shimas and the other six viziers and taking them apart privily； said to them； 'Know； O viziers； that I have been a wanderer from the right way； drowned in ignorance； setting my face against admonition； a breaker of pacts and promises and a gainsayer of folk of good counsel； and the cause of all this was my befoolment by these women and the wiles with which they beset me and the seeming fairness of their speech； wherewith they beguiled me； and my acceptance of this； for that I deemed their words true and loyal counsel； by reason of the sweetness and softness thereof； but behold； they were deadly poison。 And now I am certified that they sought but to ruin and destroy me； wherefore they deserve punishment and requital from me； for the sake of justice； that I may make them an admonition to all who will be admonished。 But what deem ye advisedly of putting them to death？'
'O mighty king；' answered the young vizier； 'I have already told thee that women are not alone to blame； but that the fault is shared between them and the men who hearken to them； but they deserve punishment for two reasons： first； for the fulfilment of thy word； because thou art the supreme king； and secondly； by reason of their presumption against thee and their beguilement of thee and their intermeddling with that which concerns them not and whereof it befits them not to speak。 Wherefore they have right well deserved death； yet let that which hath befallen them suffice them； and do thou henceforth reduce them to servants' estate。 But it is thine to mand in this and other than this。'
Some of the viziers seconded Ibn Shimas's advice； but one of them prostrated himself before the king and said to him； 'May God prolong the king's days！ If thou be indeed resolved to put them to death； do with them as I shall say to thee。' 'And what is that？' asked Wird Khan。 Quoth the vizier； 'It were best that thou bid some of thy female slaves carry the women who played thee false to the apartment； wherein befell the slaughter of thy viziers and sages； and imprison them there； and do thou assign to them a little meat and drink； enough to keep life in them ＇and no more＇。 Let them never be suffered to go forth of that place； and whenever one of them dies； let her abide among them； as she is； till they die all； even to the last of them。 This is the least of their desert； for that they were the cause of this great wickedness； ay； and the origin of all the troubles and calamities that have befallen in our time； so shall there be verified in them the words of him who said； 〃He who diggeth a pit for his brother shall surely himself fall therein； though he go long in safety。〃'
The king accepted the vizier's counsel and sending for four stalwart female slaves； mitted the offending women to them； bidding them carry them to the place of slaughter and imprison them there and allow them every day a little coarse food and a little troubled water。 They did with them as he bade； wherefore the women mourned sore； repenting them of that which they had done and lamenting grievously。 Thus God gave them their reward of abjection in this world and prepared for them torment in the world to e； nor did they cease to abide in that dark and noisome place； whilst every day one or other of them died； till they all perished； even to the last of them； and the report of this event was bruited abroad in all lands and countries。 This is the end of the story of the king and his viziers and subjects； and praise be to God who causeth peoples to pass away and quickeh the rotten bones； Him who ＇alone＇ is worthy to be glorified and magnified and hollowed for ever and ever！
ABOUKIR THE DYER AND ABOUSIR THE BARBER。
There dwelt once； in the city of Alexandria； two men； one of whom was a dyer； by name Aboukir； and the other a barber called Abousir； and they were neighbours in the market； where their shops were side by side。 The dyer was a swindler and a liar； an exceeding wicked man； as if indeed his temples were hewn out of the rock or fashioned of the threshold of a Jewish synagogue； nor was he ashamed of any knavery he wrought amongst the folk。 It was his wont； when any brought him stuffs to dye； to require of him present payment； on pretence of buying dyestuffs withal。 So the man would give him the hire in advance and go away； and he would spend it on meat and drink； after which he would sell the stuff itself and spend its price in eating and drinking and what not else； for he ate not but of the choicest and most delicate meats nor drank but of the best of that which doth away the wit。
When the owner of the stuff came to him； he would say to him； 'e to me tomorrow before sunrise and thou shalt find thy stuff dyed。' So the man would go away； saying in himself； 'One day is near another；' and return next day at the appointed time； when the dyer would say to him； 'e tomorrow； yesterday I was not at work； for I had with me guests and was occupied with their service till they went： but e tomorrow before sunrise and take thy stuff dyed。' So he would go away and return on the third day； when Aboukir would say to him； 'Indeed yesterday I was excusable； for my wife was brought to bed in the night and all day I was busy with one thing and another； but tomorrow； without fail； e and take thy stuff dyed。'
When the man came again at the appointed time； he would put him off with some other tale； it mattered little what； and would swear to him； nor would he cease to promise and swear to him； as often as he came； till the customer lost patience and said； 'How often wilt thou say to me； 〃Tomorrow？〃 Give me my stuff： I will not have it dyed。' Whereupon the dyer would make answer； 'By Allah； O my brother； I am abashed at thee； but I will tell the truth and may God harm all who do folk hurt in their goods！' The other would say； 'Tell me what hath happened；' and Aboukir would answer； 'Indeed I dyed thy stuff on matchless wise and hung it on the rope ＇to dry；＇ but it was stolen and I know not who took it。' If the owner of the stuff were a goodnatured man； he would say； 'God will recoup me；' and if he were illconditioned； he would pursue him with exposure and insult； but would get nothing of him； though he plained of him to the judge。
He ceased not to do thus till his report was noised abroad among the folk and they used to warn one another against him and he became a byword amongst them。 So they all held aloof from him and none had to do with him save those who knew not his character； but； for all this； he failed not daily to suffer insult and disgrace from God's creatures。 By reason of this his trade became slack and he used to go to the shop of his neighbour the barber and sit there； with his eyes on the door of the dyery。 Whenever he espied any one who knew him not standing at the dyerydoor； with a piece of stuff in his hand； he would go up to him and say； 'What seekest thou； O man？' And the man would answer； 'Take and dye me this thing。' So the dyer would say； 'What colour wilt thou have it？' For； with all his knavery； he could dye all manner of colours； but he never kept faith with any one； so poverty had gotten the better of him。 Then he would take the stuff and say； 'Give me my hire in advance and e tomorrow and take the stuff。' So the stranger would give him the money and go his way； whereupon Aboukir would carry the stuff to the market and sell it and buy meat and vegetables and tobacco and fruit and what not else he needed with the price； but； whenever he saw any one who had given him stuff to dye standing at the door of his shop； he would not show himself to him。
On this wise he abode years and years； till it chanced one day that he received stuff to dye from a masterful man and sold it and spent the price。 The owner came to him every day； but found him not in his shop； for； whenever he espied any one who had a claim against him； he would flee from him into the shop of the barber Abousir。 At last； the angry man； finding that he was not to be seen and growing weary of ing； repaired to the Cadi and bringing one of the latter's serjeants to the shop； nailed up the door； in presence of a number of Muslims； and sealed it； for that he found therein nothing but some broken pans； to stand him instead of his stuff； after which the serjeant took the key； saying to the neighbours； 'Tell him to bring back this man's goods and take the key of his shop；' and went his way； he and the man。
Then said Abousir to Abo