that he hath oppressed me； loose on him Thy vengeance this night and send down on him Thy punishment； for Thy rule is just and Thou art the Helper of every afflicted one； O Thou to whom belong the power and the glory to the end of time！〃
When the gaoler heard the prisoner's prayer； he trembled in every limb； and behold； a fire broke out in the king's palace and consumed the city and all that were therein； even to the door of the prison； and none was spared save the gaoler and the pilgrim。 When the gaoler saw this he knew that it had not befallen save bemuse of the pilgrim's prayer； so he loosed him and fleeing with him forth of the burning； betook himself； he and the prince； to another city。 So was the unjust king consumed； he and his city； by reason of his injustice； and he lost the goods both of this world and the next。
As for us； O august king；' continued the vizier； 'we neither lie down nor rise up without praying for thee and thanking God the Most High for His goodness in giving thee to us； tranquil in reliance on thy justice and the excellence of thy governance； and indeed we were sore concerned for thy lack of a son to inherit thy kingdom； fearing lest there betide us； after thee； a king unlike thee； but now God hath bestowed His favours upon us and done away our concern and brought us gladness in the birth of this blessed child； wherefore we beseech the Most High to make him a worthy successor ＇to thee＇ and endow him with eternal glory and felicity and abiding good。'
Then rose the fifth vizier and said； 'Blessed be the Most High God； Giver of ＇all＇ good gifts！ We are well assured that God favours those who are grateful to Him and mindful of His faith； and thou； O august king； art renowned for these illustrious virtues and for just dealing and equity among thy subjects； in that which is acceptable to God the Most High。 By reason of this hath God exalted thy dignity and made thy days happy and bestowed on thee the good gift of this happy child； after thou hadst despaired； wherefrom there hath betided up abiding gladness and joyance that may not be cut off； for before this we were in exceeding anxiety and sore concern because of thy lack of issue； and full of care； bethinking us of all thy justice and gentle dealing with us and fearful lest God decree death to thee and there be none to succeed thee and inherit the kingdom after thee； and so we be divided in our counsels and dissensions arise between us and there befall us what befell the crows。' 'And what befell the crows？' asked the king。 'Know； O august king；' replied the vizier； 'that
The Crows and the Hawk。
There was once； in a certain desert； a spacious valley； full of streams and trees and fruits and birds singing the praises of God； the One； the Allpowerful； Creator of day and night； and among them was a troop of crows； which led the goodliest of lives under the governance of one of their number； who ruled them with mildness and benignity； so that they were with him in peace and security； and by reason of their wise ordinance of their affairs； none of the other birds could avail against them。 In course of time there befell their chief that which is irrevocably appointed to all creatures and he died； whereupon the others mourned sore for him； and what added to their grief was that there was not amongst them one like unto him。 who should fill his place。 So they all assembled and took counsel together of whom it befitted to set over them： and some of them chose one crow； saying； 〃It beseemeth that this one be king over us；〃 whilst others objected to him and would none of him； and thus there arose division and dissension among them and the strife waxed hot between them。
At last they agreed to sleep the night upon it and that none should go forth at peep of dawn next morning to seek his living； ＇as of wont＇； but that all should wait till daybreak； when they should meet all in one place。 〃Then；〃 said they； 〃we will all take flight at once and whichsoever soars above the rest in his flying； we will make king over us。〃 So they did as they had agreed and took flight all； but each of them deemed himself higher than his fello highest；〃 and that； 〃Nay； that am I。〃 Then said the lowest of them ； 〃Look up； all of you； and whomsoever ye find the highest of you； let him be your chief。〃 So they raised their eyes and seeing the hawk soaring over them； said to each other； 〃We agreed that which bird soever should be the highest of us should be king over us； and behold； the hawk is the highest of us： what say ye to him？〃 And they all cried out； saying； 〃We accept of him。〃
So they called the hawk and said to him； 〃O father of good； we have chosen thee governor over us； that thou mayst look into our affair。〃 The hawk consented； saying； 〃God willing； ye shall have of me great good。〃 But； after awhile； he fell to taking a pany of them and betaking himself with them afar off to one of the caves； where he struck them down and eating their eyes and brains； threw their bodies into the river。 Thus he did every day； it being his intent to destroy them all； ＇one after another＇； till； seeing that their number diminished daily； the crows flocked to him and said； 〃O our king； we plain to thee for that； since the day we made thee king and ruler over us； we are in the sorriest case and every day a pany of us is missing and we know not the cause of this； more by token that the most part thereof are of those in attendance on thee。〃
Thereupon the hawk waxed wroth with them and said to them； 〃Verily it is ye who have slain them； and ye forestall me ＇with accusation＇。〃 So saying； he pounced upon them and tearing half a score of their chiefs ＇in pieces＇ before the rest； threatened them and drove them out from before him with blows and buffets。 So they repented them of that which they had done and said； 〃We have known no good since the death of our first king； especially in the deed of this stranger in kind； but we deserve ＇all we suffer＇； even had he destroyed us to the last of us； and there is exemplified in us the saying of Him who saith； 'He who submitteth not himself to the rule of his own people； the enemy hath dominion over him； of his ignorance。' And now there is nothing for it but to flee for our lives； else shall we perish。〃 So they took flight and dispersed to various places。
And we； O king；' continued the vizier； 'we feared lest the like of this befall us and a king bee ruler over us； other than thyself； but God hath vouchsafed us this boon and hath sent us this blessed child； and now we are assured of peace and union and security and prosperity in the land。 So blessed be God the Great and to Him be thanks and praise and fair honour！ And may He bless the king and us all his subjects and vouchsafe unto us and him the utmost felicity and make his life happy and his fortune constant！'
Then arose the sixth vizier and said； 'God grant thee all felicity； O king； in this world and the next！ Verily； the ancients say； 〃He who prayeth and fasteth and giveth parents their due and is just in his rule meeteth his Lord and He is well pleased with him。〃 Thou hast been set over us and hast ruled us justly and thine endeavour in this hath been blessed； wherefore we beseech God the Most High to make great thy reward and requite thee thy goodness。 I have heard what this wise man hath said respecting our fear for the loss of our prosperity； by reason of the death of the king or the advent of another who should not be like him； and how after him dissensions would be rife among us and calamity betide thereupon； and how it behoved up therefore to be instant in prayer to God the Most High； so haply He might vouchsafe the king a happy son； to inherit the kingship after him。 But； after all； the issue of that which man desireth of the goods of the world and after which he lusteth is unknown unto him； and it behoveth him to ask not of his Lord a thing whose issue he knoweth not； for that belike the hurt of the thing is nearer to him than its profit and his destruction may be in that he seeketh and there may befall him what befell the serpentcharmer's wife and children and the people of his house。' 'What was that？' asked the king。 'Know； O king；' replied the vizier； 'that
The Serpentcharmer and His Wife。
There was once a man； a serpentcharmer； who used to ＇catch and＇ train serpents； and this was his trade； and he had a great basket； in which were three snakes； but the people of his house knew this not。 Every day he used to take the basket and go round about the town with it； gaining his living and that of his family ＇by exhibiting the snakes＇； and at eventide he returned to his house and clapped them back into the basket privily。 One day； when he came home； as of wont； his wife asked him what was in the basket and he said； 〃What wouldst thou with it？ Is not victual plentiful with you？ Be content with that which God hath allotted to thee and enquire not of aught else。〃 With this she held her peace； but she said in herself； 〃Needs must I search the basket and know what is therein。〃 So she egged on her children to ask him of the basket and importune him； till he should tell them what was therein。 They concluded that it contained something to eat and sought every day of their father that he should show them what was in it； and he still put them off and forbade them from asking this。
On this wise they abode awhile； till they agreed with their mother that they would neither eat nor drink with their father； till he granted them their prayer and opened the basket to them。 One night； the serpentcharmer came home with great plenty of meat and drink and called them to eat with him； but they refused and showed him anger； whereupon he began to coax them with fair words； saying； 〃Tell me what you would have； that I may bring it you； be it meat or drink or clothes。〃 〃O our father；〃 answered they； 〃we want nothing of thee but that thou open this basket and show us what is therein： else we will kill ourselves。〃 〃O my children；〃 rejoined he； 〃there is nothing good for you therein and indeed the opening of it will be hurtful to you。〃 They only redoubled in despite for all he could say； which when he saw； he began to berate them and threaten them with beating； except they left this； but they redoubled in anger and persi