not leave to ride forth against thee with a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand fightingmen； all giants on elephants； and I will range them round about my vizier and bid him beleaguer thee three years； in place of the three days' delay thou appointedst to thy messenger； and I will make myself master of thy kingdom； except that I will slay none but thyself alone and make prisoners therefrom none but thy harem。'
Then the boy drew his own portrait in the margin of the letter and wrote thereunder the words： 'This answer was written by the least of the boys of the school；' after which he sealed it and handed it to the king。 The latter gave it to the courier； who took it and kissing the king's hands； went forth from him； rendering thanks to God and the king for the latter's clemency to him and marvelling at the boy's intelligence。 He arrived at the court of the king； his master； three days after the expiration of the term appointed to him； and found that he had called a meeting of his council； by reason of the failure of the courier to return at the appointed time。 So he went in to the king and prostrating himself before him； gave him the letter。 The king took it and questioned him of the cause of his tarrying and how it was with King Wird Khan。 So he recounted to him all that he had seen with his eyes and heard with his ears； whereat the king's wit was confounded and he said； 'Out on thee！ What tale is this thou tellest me of the like of this king？' 'O mighty king；' answered the courier； 'I am here before thee； （187） but open the letter and read it； and the truth of my speech will appear to thee。'
So the king opened the letter and read it and seeing the portrait of the boy who had written it； made sure of the loss of his kingdom and was perplexed concerning the issue of his affair。 Then； turning to his viziers and grandees； he acquainted them with the case and read them the letter； whereat they were mightily affrighted and sought to calm the king's terror with words that were only from the tongue； whilst their hearts were torn with alarm and anxiety； but Bediya； the chief vizier； said； 'Know； O king； that there is no avail in that which my brother viziers have said； and it is my counsel that thou write this king a letter and excuse thyself to him therein； saying； 〃I love thee and loved thy father before thee and sent thee this letter by the courier only to prove thee and try thy constancy and see what was in thee of stoutness and thy proficiency in matters practical and theoretical and skill in enigmas and that wherewith thou art endowed of all perfections。 Wherefore we pray God the Most High to bless thee in thy kingdom and strengthen the defences of thy ＇capital＇ city and add to thy dominion； since thou art mindful of thyself and acplishest the needs of thy subjects。〃 And send it to him by another courier。' 'By the Great God；' exclaimed the king； 'it is a wonder of wonders that this man should be a mighty king and prepared for war； after his slaughter of all the wise men of his kingdom and his counsellors and the captains of his host and that his realm should prosper after this and there should issue therefrom this vast strength！ But the most wonderful of all is that the little ones of its schools should return the like of this answer for its king。 Verily； of my illomened presumption； I have kindled this fire upon myself； and I know not how I shall quench it； save ＇by acting on＇ the advice of this my vizier。'
Accordingly he made ready a rich present； with slaves and attendants galore； and wrote the following letter ＇in answer to that of Wird Khan＇。 'In the name of God； the passionate； the Merciful！ To proceed。 O glorious King Wird Khan； son of my dear brother Jelyaad； may God have mercy on thee and continue thee ＇on life！＇ Thine answer to our letter hath reached us and we have read it and apprehended its meaning and see therein that which rejoiceth us； and this is the utmost of that which we sought of God for thee； wherefore we beseech Him to exalt thy dignity and stablish the pillars of thy state and give thee the victory over thy foes and those who purpose thee ill。 Know； O king； that thy father was my brother and that there were between us in his lifetime pacts and covenants of friendship； and never had he of me nor I of him other than good； and when he was translated ＇to the mercy of God＇ and thou sattest upon the throne of his kingship； there betided us the utmost joy and contentment； but； when the news reached us of that which thou didst with thy viziers and the notables of thy state； we feared lest the report of thee should e to the ears of some king other than ourselves and he should presume against thee； for that we deemed thee neglectful of thine affairs and of the maintenance of thy defences and careless of the interests of thy kingdom； so we wrote unto thee what should arouse thee ＇from thy torpor＇。 But； when we saw that thou returnest us the like of this answer； our heart was set at ease for thee； may God give thee enjoyment of thy kingdom and stablish thee in thy dignity！ And so peace be on thee。'
Then he despatched the letter and the present to Wird Khan with an escort of a hundred horse； who fared on till they came to his court and saluting him； presented him with the letter and the gifts。 The king read the letter and accepted the presents； lodging the captain of the escort in a befitting place and entreating him with honour。 So the news of this was bruited abroad among the people and the king rejoiced therein with an exceeding joy。 Then he sent for the boy； the son of Shimas； and the captain of the hundred horse； and entreating the young vizier with honour； gave him the letter to read； whilst he himself upbraided the captain concerning the king's conduct； and the latter kissed his hand and made his excuses to him； offering up prayers for the continuance of his life and the eternity of his fortune。 The king thanked him for his good wishes and bestowed upon him honours and largesse galore。 Moreover； he gave his men what befitted them and made ready presents to send by them and bade the young vizier 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 evi