Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 1.djvu/138

118 Bekhtzeman and all this happened to me; wherefore I will seek the gate of God[’s mercy] and repent unto Him.’ So he went forth to one of the mountains and there worshipped God awhile, till one night, as he slept, one appeared to him in a dream and said to him, ‘O Bekhtzeman, God accepteth thy repentance and openeth on thee [the gate of succour] and will further thee against thine enemy.’ When he was certified of this in the dream, he arose and turned back, intending for his own city; and when he drew near thereunto, he saw a company of the king’s retainers, who said to him, ‘Whence art thou? We see that thou art a stranger and fear for thee from this king, for that every stranger who enters this city, he destroys him, of his fear of King Bekhtzeman.’ Quoth Bekhtzeman, ‘None shall hurt him nor advantage him save God the Most High.’ And they answered, saying, ‘Indeed, he hath a vast army and his heart is fortified in the multitude of his troops.’

When King Bekhtzeman heard this, his heart was comforted and he said in himself, ‘I put my trust in God. If He will, I shall overcome mine enemy by the might of God the Most High.’ So he said to the folk, ‘Know ye not who I am?’ and they answered, ‘No, by Allah.’ Quoth he, ‘I am King Bekhtzeman.’ When they heard this and knew that it was indeed he, they dismounted from their horses and kissed his stirrup, to do him honour, and said to him, ‘O king, why hast thou thus adventured thyself?’ Quoth he, ‘Indeed, my life is a light matter to me and I put my trust in God the Most High, looking to Him for protection.’ And they answered him, saying,