Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 1.djvu/265

240 which they had done, whenas repentance profited them not, and the prince complained to his father of weariness and hunger. ‘Dear my son,’ answered the king, ‘I did with thee that which behoved me, but thou wouldst not hearken to me, and now there is no means of returning to thy former estate, for that another hath taken the kingdom and become its defender; but I will counsel thee of somewhat, wherein do thou pleasure me.’ Quoth the prince, ‘What is it?’ And his father said, ‘Take me and go with me to the market and sell me and take my price and do with it what thou wilt, and I shall become the property of one who will provide for my support,’ ‘Who will buy thee of me,’ asked the prince, ‘seeing thou art a very old man? Nay, do thou rather sell me, for the demand for me will be greater.’ But the king said, ‘An thou wert king, thou wouldst require me of service.’

So the youth obeyed his father’s commandment and taking him, carried him to the slave-dealer and said to the latter, ‘Sell me this old man.’ Quoth the dealer, ‘Who will buy this fellow, and he a man of fourscore?’ Then said he to the king, ‘In what crafts dost thou excel?’ Quoth he, ‘I know the quintessence of jewels and I know the quintessence of horses and that of men; brief, I know the quintessence of all things.’ So the dealer took him and went about, offering him for sale to the folk; but none would buy. Presently, up came the overseer of the [Sultan’s] kitchen and said, ‘What is this man?’ And the dealer answered, ‘This is a slave for