ed the vestibule and saw Abousir； who rose to him and rejoiced in him： but the dyer said to him； 'Is this the fashion of men of honour？ I have opened me a dyery and am bee masterdyer of the city and acquainted with the king and have risen to fortune and lordship； yet camest thou not to me nor askedst of me nor saidst； 〃Where is my rade？〃 For my part； I sought thee in vain and sent my slaves and Servants to make search for thee in all the inns and other places； but they knew not whither thou hadst gone； nor could any give me news of thee。' Quoth Abousir； 'Did I not e to thee and didst thou not make me out a thief and beat me and disgrace me before the folk？'
At this Aboukir made a show of concern and said； 'What manner of talk is this？ Was it thou whom I beat？' 'Yes；' answered Abousir； 'it was I。' Whereupon Aboukir swore to him a thousand oaths that he knew him not and said； 'There was a fellow like unto thee； who used to e every day and steal the people's stuff； and I took thee for him。' And he went on to feign repentance； beating hand upon hand and saying； 'There is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High； the Supreme！ Indeed； I have sinned against thee； but would that thou hadst made thyself known to me and said； 〃I am such an one！〃 Indeed the fault is with thee； for that thou madest not thyself known unto me； more by token that I was distraught for much business。' 'God pardon thee； o my rade！' replied Abousir。 'This was foreordained； and reparation is with God。 Enter and put off thy clothes and bathe at thine ease。' 'I conjure thee by Allah； O my brother；' said the dyer； 'five me！' And Abousir said； 'God acquit thee of blame and five thee！ Indeed this thing was decreed to me from all eternity。'
Then said Aboukir； 'Whence gottest thou this lordship？' 'He who prospered thee prospered me；' answered Abousir。 'For I went up to the king and set forth to him the fashion of the bath； and he bade me build one。' And the dyer said； 'Even as thou art an acquaintance of the king； so also am I； and God willing； I will make him love and barr tender thee more than ever； for my sake； for he knows not that thou art my rade； but I will tell him of this and mend thee to him。' 'There needs no mendation；' answered Abousir； 'for He who inclib ＇men's hearts unto love＇ is ＇ever＇present； and indeed the king and all his court love me ＇already＇ and have given me this and that。' And he told him the whole story and said to him； 'Put off thy clothes behind the chest and enter the bath； and I will go in with thee and shampoo thee。' So he put off his clothes and Abousir； entering the bath with him； soaped him and shampooed him and busied himself with his service till he came forth； when he brought him the morning meal and sherbets； whilst all the folk marvelled at the honour he did him。
Then Aboukir would have given him somewhat； but he swore that he would take nothing from him and said to him； 'Shame upon thee！ Thou art my rade； and there is no difference between us。' 'By Allah； O my rade；' said Aboukir； 'this is a fine bath of thine； but there lacks one thing to thy fashion therein。' 'And what is that？' asked Abousir。 'It is the depilatory； to wit； the paste pounded of orpiment and quicklime；' answered the dyer； 'that removes the hair with ease。 Do thou prepare it and next time the king es； present it to him； teaching him how he shall cause the hair fall off by means thereof； and he will love thee with an exceeding love and honour thee。' Quoth Abousir； 'Thou sayst sooth； and if it be the will of God the Most High； I will do this。'
Then Aboukir mounted his mule and riding to the palace； went in to the king and said to him； 'O king of the age； I have a warning to give thee。' 'And what is thy warning？' asked the king。 Quoth Aboukir； 'I hear that thou hast built a bath。' 'Yes； answered the king； 'there came to me a stranger and I founded the bath for him； even as I founded the dyery for thee； and indeed it is a magnificent bath and an ornament to my city。' And he went on to set forth to him the virtues of the bath。 'Hast thou entered therein？' asked the dyer。 And the king answered； 'Yes。' 'Praised be God；' exclaimed Aboukir； 'who hath preserved thee from the mischief of yonder villain and enemy of the faith； to wit； the bathkeeper！' 'And what of him？' asked the king。 'Know； O king of the age；' replied Aboukir； 'that； if thou enter the bath again； after this day； thou wilt surely perish。' 'How so？' inquired the king； and the dyer answered； 'This bathkeeper is thine enemy and the enemy of the faith； and he induced thee not to set up this bath but because he designed to poison thee therein。 He hath made for thee somewhat which； when thou enterest the bath； he will present to thee； saying； 〃This is an unguent； which if one apply to his privy parts； it will remove the hair with ease。〃
Now it is no unguent； but a deadly drug and a violent poison； for the Sultan of the Christians hath promised this filthy fellow to release to him his wife and children； if he will kill thee； for they are captives in the hands of the Sultan in question。 I myself was captive with him in their land； but I opened a dyery and dyed for them various colours； so that they inclined the king's heart unto me and he bade me ask a boon of him。 I sought of him freedom and he set me free； whereupon I made my way hither； and seeing yonder man in the bath； asked him how he had effected his escape and that of his wife and children。 Quoth he； 〃We ceased not to be in captivity； I and my wife and children； till one day the King of the Christians held a court； at which I was present； amongst a number of other people。 Presently； I heard them discourse of the kings and name them； one after another； till they came to the name of the king of this city； whereupon the King of the Christians cried out； 'Alas！' and said； 'None irketh me （191） in the world； but the king of such a city！ （192） Whosoever will contrive me his slaughter； I will give him all he asks。' So I went up to him and said； 'If I contrive thee his slaughter； wilt thou set me free； me and my wife and children？' 'Yes；' answered the king； 'and I will give thee ＇to boot＇ whatsoever thou shalt desire。
So we agreed upon this and he sent rue in a galleon to this city； where I presented myself to the king and he built me this bath。 So now I have nought to do but to slay him and return to the King of the Christians； that I may redeem my wife and children and ask a boon of him。〃 Quoth I； 〃And how wilt thou go about to kill him？〃 〃By the simplest of all devices；〃 answered he； 〃for I have pounded him somewhat wherein is poison； so； when he es to the bath； I shall say to him； 'Take this unguent and anoint thy privy parts therewith； for it will cause the hair to drop off。' So he will take it and anoint himself therewith； and the poison will work in him a day and a night； till it reaches his heart and destroys him； and meanwhile I shall have made off and none will know that it was I slew him。〃 When I heard this；' added Aboukir； 'I feared for thee； being beholden to thee for thy goodness； wherefore I have told thee thereof。'
When the king heard the dyer's story； he was exceeding wroth and said to him； 'Keep this secret。' Then he betook himself to the bath； that he might dispel doubt with assurance； and when he entered； Abousir put off his clothes and betaking himself ＇as of wont＇ to the service of the king； proceeded to shampoo him； after which he said to him； 'O king of the age； I have made an unguent for removing the hair from the privy parts。' 'Bring it to me；' said the king。 So the barber brought it to him and the king； finding it nauseous of smell； was assured that it was poison； wherefore he was incensed and called out to his guards； saying； 'Seize him！' So they seized him and the king donned his clothes and returned to his palace； boiling with rage； whilst none knew the cause of his anger； for； of the excess of his wrath； he had acquainted no one therewith and none dared ask him。 Then he repaired to the audiencechamber and causing Abousir to be brought before him； with his hands bound behind his back； sent for his seacaptain and said to him； 'Take this villain and tie him in a sack e。 Then lay him in a boat and row out with him in front of my palace； where thou wilt see me sitting at the lattice。 Do thou say to me； 〃Shall I cast him in？〃 and if I answer； 〃Cast；〃 throw him into the sea； so the lime may be slaked on him； to the intent that he shall die drowned and burnt。'
'I hear and obey；' answered the captain and taking Abousir； carried him to an island； that lay over against the king's palace； where he said to him； 'Harkye； I once visited thy bath and thou entreatedst me with honour and acplishedst all my wants and I had great pleasure of thee： moreover； thou sworest that thou wouldst take no pay of me； and I love thee with a great love。 So tell me how the case stands between thee and the king and what abomination thou hast done with him that he is wroth with thee and hath manded me that thou shouldst die this horrid death。' 'By Allah； O my brother；' answered Abousir； 'I have done nothing； nor do I know of any crime I have mitted against him that merits this！' 'Verily；' rejoined the captain； 'thou wast in high favour with the king； such as none ever enjoyed before thee； and all who are prosperous are envied。 Belike some one envied thee thy good fortune and missaid of thee to the king； by reason whereof he is bee thus enraged against thee： but be of good cheer； no harm shall befall thee： for； even as thou entreatedst me generously； without knowledge of me； so now I will deliver thee。 But； if I release thee； thou must abide with me in this island till some galleon set sail from the city to thy native land； when I will send thee thither therein。'
Abousir kissed his hand and thanked him for this； after which the captain fetched the lime and laid it in a sack； together with a great stone； the bigness of a man； saying； 'I put my trust in God。' Then he gave the barber a ； saying； 'Cast this into the sea； so haply thou mayst take somewhat of fish。 For I am bounden to furnish the king's kitchen with fish every day； but today I have been distracted from fishing by this calamity that hath befallen thee； and I fear lest the cook's servants e to me in quest of fish and find none。 So； if thou take aught； they will find it and thou wilt veil my face； （193） whilst I go and play off my device in front of the palace and feign to cast thee into the sea。' 'Go；' answered Abousir； 'and God be thy helper。 I will fish the while。'
So the captain laid the sack in the boat and rowed till he came under the palace； where he saw the king seated at the lattice and said to him； 'O king of the age； shall I Cast him in？' 'Cast；' answered the king and signed to him with his hand； whereupon something flashed and fell into the sea。 Now this that had fallen into the sea was the king's sealring； which was enchanted on such wise that； when the king was wroth with any one and was minded to slay him； he had but to sign to him with his right hand； whereon was the ring； and there issued lightning therefrom； which smote the offender； and thereupon his head fell from his shoulders。 It was this ring that gave him authority over the troops； nor did he overe the mighty save by mean