第17章 THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT(15)

so he took the cup from the falcon's neck and filled it with the liquid and set it before himselfwhen beholdthe falcon smote the cup and overturned it. The King took it and refilled it with the falling drops and set it before the birdthinking that it was athirst： but it smote it again and overturned it. At this，the King was vexed with the falcon and rose and filled the cup a third time and set it before the horse： but the falcon again overturned it with its wing. Then said the King'God confound theethou most mischievous of fowlsthou wilt neither drink thyself nor let me nor the horse drink！'And he smote it with his sword and cut off its wings： whereupon it erected its head and made signs as who should say'Look what is at the top of the tree.'The King raised his eyes and saw at the top of the tree a brood of snakesand this was their venom drippingwhich he had taken for water. So he repented him of having cut off the falcon's wings and mountingrode on till he reached his tents and gave the gazelle to the cook to roast. Then he sat down on his chairwith the falcon on his wrist： and presently the bird gasped and died： whereupon the King cried out in sorrow and lament for having slain the bird that had saved him from death，and repented him when repentance availed him not. Thisthenis the story of King Sindbad；and as for theeO Vizierenvy hath entered into theeand thou wouldst have me kill the physician and after repenteven as King Sindbad repented.'O mighty King，'answered the Vizier'what harm has this physician done me that I should wish his death？ Indeed I only do this thing in compassion for thee and that thou mayst know the truth of the matter： else may I perish as perished the Vizier who plotted to destroy the king his master's son.'How was that？ asked the Kingand the Vizier replied'KnowO Kingthat The King's Son and the Ogress.

There was once a King's son who was passionately fond of the chase；and his father had charged one of his Viziers to attend him wherever he went. One daythe prince went out to hunt，accompanied by the Vizierand as they were going alongthey saw a great wild beastwhereupon the Vizier said to the prince'Up and after yonder beast！'So the prince rode after the beast and followed ittill he was lost to sight. After awhilethe beast disappeared in the desertand the prince found himself alone，not knowing which way to turn. Presently he came upon a damsel，weepingand said to her'Who art thou？'Quoth she'I am the daughter of one of the Kings of Indiaand I was journeying through this countrywith a company of peoplewhen sleep overcame me and I fell from my horsenot knowing what I did. My people did not note my fall and went on and left me；and now I am alone and bewildered.'When the prince heard thishe had pity on her case and took her up behind himself and they rode ontill they came to some ruins；when she said to him'O my lordI wish to do an occasion here.'So he put her downand she entered the ruins and tarried there till he became impatient and went in search of her；when he was ware that she was an ogressand heard her say to her children'O my childrenI have brought you to day a fat youth.'O mother，'answered they'bring him to us，that we may browse on him our bellyful.'When the prince heard this their talkhe trembled in every nerve and made sure of destruction and turned back. The ogress came out after him and finding him terrified and tremblingsaid to him'Why dost thou fear？'Quoth he'I have an enemyof whom I am in fear.'Didst thou not say that thou wast a King's son？'asked sheand he answered 'Yes.'Then，'said she'why dost thou not give thine enemy money and so appease him？'He replied'Indeed he will not be satisfied with money nor with aught but life；and I fear him and am an oppressed man.'If thou be oppressed as thou sayst，'rejoined she'ask help of God；surely He will protect thee from thine enemy and from the mischief thou fearest from him.'So the prince raised his eyes to heaven and said'O Thou that answerest the prayer of the distressedwhen they call on Theeand dispellest evil from themO my Godsuccour me against mine enemy and turn him back from mefor Thou indeed canst do whatsoever Thou wilt.'When the ogress heard his prayershe departed from him and he resumed to the King his father and informed him of the Vizier's conduct： whereupon the King sent for the latter and put him to death. And thouO King'（continued the envious Vizier）'if thou put thy trust in this physicianhe will kill thee in the foulest fashion. Heverilywhom thou hast favoured and admitted to thy friendshipplots thy destruction：

for know that he is a spy come from a far land with intent to destroy thee. Seest thou not that he cured thee of thy distemper from withoutby means of a thing held in thy handand how canst thou be sure that he will not kill thee by some like means？'

'Thou speakest soothO Vizier of good counsel！'said the King.

'It must indeed be as thou sayst；this physician doubtless comes as a spyseeking to destroy me；and indeedif he could cure me by means of a handle held in my handhe can kill me by means of something I shall smell. But what is to be done with him？'Send after him at once，'answered the Vizier'and when he comes，strike off his head and play him falseere he play thee false；and so shalt thou ward off his mischief and be at peace from him.'Thou art rightO Vizier，'rejoined the King and sent for the physicianwho camerejoicingfor he knew not what the Compassionate had decreed unto him. As the saying runs：

Thou that fearest ill fortunebe of good heart and hope！Trust thine affairs to Him who fashioned the earth and sea！

What is decreed of God surely shall come to pass；That which is not decreed never shall trouble thee.

When Douban enteredhe recited the following verses：

If all the thanks I speak come short of that which is your due，Say for whom else my verse and prose I make except for you？

You have indeed prevented me with many an unasked boonBlest me，unhindered of excusewith favours not a few.