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 will give it to one of the boys of the school to answer。〃 Then send for me； and when I e； bid me read the letter and answer it。'
When the king heard the boy's speech； his breast expanded and he approved his counsel and his device pleased him。 So he conferred largesse upon him and instating him in his father's once； sent him away； rejoicing。 When the three days of delay were expired； that he had appointed unto the courier； the latter presented himself and going in to the king； demanded the answer； but he put him off to another day； whereupon he went to the end of the throneroom and spake unseemly； even as the boy had foresaid。 Then he betook himself to the bazaar and said； 'Ho； people of this city； I came with a message from the King of Farther India to your king； and still he putteth me off from an answer。 Now the term is past which my master limited unto me and your king hath no excuse； and ye are witnesses unto this。'
When this speech was reported to the king； he sent for the courier and said to him； 'O thou that seekest thine own destruction； art thou not the bearer of a letter from king to king； between whom are secrets； and how eth it that thou goest forth among the folk and publishest kings' secrets to the mon people？ Verily； thou meritest punishment from us； but this we will forbear； for the sake of returning an answer by thee to this fool of a king of thine： and it befitteth not that any return him an answer but the least of the boys of the school。' Then he sent for the vizier's son； who carne and prostrating himself to God； offered up prayers for the king's abiding glory and long life； whereupon Wird Khan threw him the letter； saying； 'Read that letter and write me a reply hereto in haste。'
The boy took the letter and reading it； smiled； then he laughed aloud and said to the king； 'Didst thou send for me to answer this letter？' 'Yes；' answered Wird Khan； and the boy said； 'O king； methought thou hadst sent for me on some grave matter； indeed a lesser than I had availed to the answering of this letter； but it is thine to mand； O puissant king。' Quoth the king； 'Write the answer forthright； on account of the courier； for that he is appointed a term and we have delayed him another day。' 'I hear and obey；' answered the boy and pulling out paper and inkhorn； wrote the following answer。
'In the name of God the Merciful； the passionate！ Peace be upon him who hath gotten pardon and deliverance and the mercy of the passionate One！ To proceed。 O thou that pretendeth thyself a mighty king ＇and art but a king＇ in word and not in deed； we give thee to know that thy letter hath reached us and we have read it and have taken note of that which is therein of absurdities and rare extravagances； whereby we are certified of thine ignorance and illwill unto us。 Verily； thou hast put out thy hand to that whereunto thou availest not； and but that we have passion on God's creatures and the people； we had not held back ＇our hand＇ from thee。 As for thy messenger； he went forth to the bazaar and published the news of thy letter to great and small； whereby he merited punishment from us； but we spared him and remitted his offence； not of respect for thee； but of pity for him； seeing that he is excusable with thee。
As for that whereof thou makest mention in thy letter of the slaughter of my viziers and wise men and grandees； this is the truth and ＇this I did＇ for a reason that availed with me； and I slew not one man of learning but there are with me a thousand of his kind； wiser than he and more of sense and learning； nor is there with me a child but is filled with knowledge and wisdom； and I have； in the stead of each of the slain； of those who surpass in his kind； what is beyond count。 Moreover； each of my troops con cope with a battalion of thine； whilst； as for treasure； I have a manufactory that makes every day a thousand pounds of silver； besides gold； and precious stones are with me as pebbles； and as for the people of my kingdom； I cannot set forth to thee their wealth and beauty and goodliness。 How darest thou； therefore； presume upon us and say to us； 〃Build me a castle amiddleward the sea？〃 Verily； this is a marvellous thing； and doubtless it arises from the slenderness of thy wit； for； hadst thou aught of sense； thou hadst enquired of the beatings of the waves and the movements of the winds。 But fend thou off therefrom the waves and the surges of the sea and still the winds； and we will build thee the castle。
As for thy pretension that thou e； God forfend that the like of thee should lord it over us and conquer our realm！ Nay； God the Most High hath given me the mastery over thee； for that thou hast transgressed against me and provoked me without due cause。 Know； therefore； that thou hast merited chastisement from God and from me； but I fear God in respect of thee and thy subjects （186） and will not take horse against thee but after warning。 Wherefore； if thou fear God； hasten to send me this year's tribute； else will I not leave to ride forth against thee with a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand fightingmen； a