Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 1.djvu/317

292 to fate and fortune fore-ordained, it had been safer and better [for him]; but he made light of the folk and belittled their wit and was not content to take example by them; for his soul whispered him that he was a man of understanding and he imagined that, if he abode with them, he would perish; so his folly cast him into perdition. Nor,” added the vizier, “is this more extraordinary than the story of the man who was lavish of his house and his victual to one whom he knew not.”

When the king heard this, he said, “I will not isolate myself from the folk and slay my vizier.” And he bade him depart to his dwelling.