r having vouchsafed us safety and bodily weal； for we have none other in whom to trust； and if He will and we live till next year； He will give us other young in the stead of those we have lost this year。〃
Next year the serpent again sallied forth from its place at the same time and made for the crows' nest： but； as it climbed up the tree； a kite swooped down on it and struck his claws into its head and tore it； whereupon it fell to the ground； senseless； and the ants came out upon it and devoured it。 So the crow and his wife abode in peace and quiet and reared a numerous brood and thanked God for their safety and for the young that were born to them。 In like manner； O king；' continued the vizier； 'it behoveth us to thank God for that wherewith He hath favoured us and thee in vouchsafing us this happy and blessed child； after despair and hope cut off。 May He make fair thy reward and the issue of thine affair！'
Then rose the third vizier and said； 'Rejoice； O just king； in the assurance of present prosperity and future felicity； （147） for him； whom the people of the earth love； the people of heaven love also； and indeed God the Most High hath made love to be thy portion and hath stablished it in the hearts of the people of thy kingdom； wherefore to Him be thanks and praise from us and from thee； so He may redouble in His bounty to thee and to us in thee！ For know； O king； that man can nought but by mandment of God the Most High and that He is the Giver and all good that befalleth a creature hath its ＇origin and＇ issue in Him。 He allotteth His favours to His creatures； as it liketh Him； to some He giveth store of gifts and others may hardly get their daily bread。 Some He maketh lords and captains； and others recluses； who abstain from the world and aspire but to Him； for He it is who saith； 〃I am He who harmeth and who advantageth； I make whole and make sick； I enrich and impoverish； I slay and quicken； in my hand is everything and all things have their issue in Me。〃 Wherefore it behoveth all folk to praise Him。
Thou； O king； art of the fortunate pious men of whom it is said； 〃The happiest of the just is he for whom God uniteth the goods of this world and the next； who is content with that which God allotted to him and giveth Him thanks for that which He hath established。〃 And indeed he who is froward and seeketh other than that which God hath decreed unto him and for him resembleth the fox ＇and shall fare as he did＇ with the wild ass。' 'And what is the story of the fox and the wild ass？' asked the king。 'Know； O king；' replied the vizier； 'that
The Fox and the Wild Ass。
A certain fox was wont every day to leave his earth and go forth in quest of prey。 One day； as he was in a certain mountain； the night overtook him and he set out to return。 On his way； be fell in with another fox； and each began to tell the other of the prey he had gotten。 Quoth the newer； 〃The other day I chanced upon a wild ass and rejoiced in this and thanked God the Most High for bringing him into my power； for that I was anhungred and it was three days since I had eaten。 So I tore out his heart and ate it and was full and returned to my earth。 That was three days ago and since then I have found nothing to eat； yet am I still full of meat。' When the other fox heard his fellow's story； he envied him his fulness and said in himself； 〃Needs must I eat a wild ass's heart。〃 So he left eating some days； till he became emaciated and nigh upon death and bestirred not himself neither did his endeavour ＇to get food＇； but lay coiled up in his earth。
One day there came out two hunters in quest of prey and started a wild ass。 They followed in his track all day； till at last one of them shot at him a barbed arrow； which pierced his heart and killed him； and he fell down before the fox's hole。 Then the hunters e up and finding him dead； pulled out the arrow from his heart but only the shaft came away and the barbed head abode in the wound。 So they left him where he lay； expecting that others of the wild beasts would flock to him； but； when it was night and nothing fell to them； they returned to their abidingplaces。 The fox； hearing the motion at the mouth of his hole； lay quiet till nightfall； when he came forth of his earth； groaning for weakness and hunger； and seeing the dead ass lying at his door； was like to fly for joy and said； 〃Praised be God who hath made my desire easy to me without toil！ Verily； I had lost hope of ing at a wild ass or aught else； and assuredly God hath sent him to me and made him fall in my place。〃
Then he sprang on the dead ass and tearing open its belly； thrust in his head and routed about in its guts； till he found the heart and tearing it out； swallowed it： but the barbed head of the arrow stuck in his gullet and he could neither get it down into his belly nor bring it forth of his throat。 So he made sure of destruction and said； 〃Of a truth it beseemeth not the creature to seek ＇aught＇ over and above that which God hath allotted to him。 Had I been content with what He allotted me； I had not e to destruction。〃 Wherefore； O king；' added the vizier； 'it behoveth man to be content with that which God hath allotted him and thank Him for His bounties to him and despair not of his Lord。 And behold； O king； because of the purity of thine intent and the multitude of thy good works； God hath blessed thee with a son； after despair： wherefore we pray the Most High to vouchsafe him long life and abiding happiness and make him a blessed successor； faithful in the observance of thy covenant； after thy long life。'
Then arose the fourth vizier and said； 'Verily； if the king be a man of understanding； versed in the canons of science and government and policy； upright in purpose and just to his subjects； honouring and revering those to whom honour and veneration are due； using clemency； whenas it behoveth； in the exercise of his power and protecting both governors and governed； lightening their burdens and bestowing largesse on them； sparing their blood and covering their nakedness and fulfilling his covenant with them； he is worthy of felicity both in this world and the next： and this is of that which protecteth him from them （148） and helpeth him to the stablishing of his kingdom and the victory over his enemies and the acplishment of his desire； together with increase of God's bounty to him and His favouring him for his praise of Him and the attainment of His protection。 But the king who is the contrary of this ceaseth never from misfortunes and calamities； he and the people of his realm； for that his oppression embraceth both stranger and kinsman； and there eth to pass with him that which befell the unjust king with the pilgrim prince。' 'And how was that？' asked King Jelyaad。 'Know； O king；' answered the vizier； 'that
The Unjust King and the Pilgrim Prince
There was once； in the land of the West； （149） a king who was unjust in his rule； tyrannous； violent and capricious； having no regard to the welfare or protection of his subjects nor of those who entered his kingdom； and from every one who came within his realm his officers took fourfifths of his good and left him onefifth； and no more。 God the Most High decreed that he should have a son； who was fortunate （150） and favoured （151） and seeing the things of the world to be unrighteous； renounced them in his youth and put away from him the world and that which is therein and went forth； a pilgrim； serving God the Most High； wandering over deserts and wastes and ＇bytimes＇ entering cities。
One day； he came to his father's capital and the guards laid hands on him and searched him； but found nothing upon him but two gowns； one old and the other new。 So they stripped the new one from him and left him the old； after they had passing scurvily entreated him； whereat he plained and said； 〃Out on you； O oppressors！ I am a poor man and a pilgrim； and what shall this gown profit you？ Except ye restore it to me； I will go to the king and plain to him of you。〃 〃We do this by the king's mandment；〃 answered they。 〃So do what seemeth good to thee。〃
So he betook himself to the king's palace； but the chamberlains denied him admittance； and he turned away； saying in himself； 〃There is nothing for me but to watch for his ing out and plain to him of my case and that which hath betided me。〃 Accordingly； he waited till he heard one of the guards announce the king's ing forth； whereupon he crept up； little by little； till he stood before the gate； and when the king e out； he threw himself in his way and made his plaint to him； giving him to know that he was a man of the people of God； （152） who had renounced the world and went wandering over the earth； seeking acceptance of God and entering every city and hamlet； whilst all the folk he met gave him alms according to their power。 〃I entered this thy city；' continued he； 〃hoping that the folk would deal with me as with others of my condition； but thy men stopped me and stripped me of one of my gowns and loaded me with blows。 Wherefore do thou look into my case and take me by the hand and get me back my gown and I will not abide in thy city an hour。〃 Quoth the unjust king； 〃Who counselled thee to enter this city； unknowing the custom of its king？〃 And the pilgrim answered； 〃Give me back my gown and do with me what thou wilt。〃
When the king heard this； he fell into a rage and said； 〃O fool； we stripped thee of thy gown； so thou mightest humble thyself ＇to us＇； but since thou troublest us with this clamour； we will strip thy soul from thee。〃 Then he manded to cast him into prison； where he began to repent of having answered the king and reproached himself for not having left him the gown and made off with his life。 When it was the middle of the night； he rose to his feet and prayed long and fervently； saying； 〃O God； Thou art the Righteous Judge； Thou knowest my case and that which hath befallen me with this unjust king； and I； Thine oppressed servant； beseech Thee； of the fulness of Thy mercy； to deliver me from the hand of this unjust king and send down on him Thy vengeance； for Thou art not unmindful of the upright of every oppressor。 Wherefore； if Thou know that he hath oppressed me； loose on him Thy vengeance this night and send down on him Thy punishment