Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 1.djvu/424

394 That they none else would have for monarch of the world, For sovran of the time and King in Kisra’s gate. Kings, salutation-wise, upon his threshold’s earth, For his acceptance lay the jewels of their state; And when their eyes behold the glory of his might, Upon the earth, in awe, themselves they do prostrate. This humbleness it is that profits them with thee And wins them wealth and power and rank and high estate. Upon old Saturn’s heights pitch thy pavilion, Since for thy countless hosts the world is grown too strait, And teach the stars to know thine own magnificence, In kindness to the prince who rules the starry state. May God with His consent for ever favour thee! For steadfastness of soul and sense upon thee wait: Thy justice overspreads the surface of the earth, Till far and near for it their difference abate.

The Khalif was charmed with his eloquence and the sweetness of his speech and said to him, ‘Draw near to me.’ So he drew near and the Khalif said, ‘Tell me thy story and expound to me thy case.’ So Ghanim sat down and related to him all that had befallen him, from beginning to end. The Khalif was assured that he spoke the truth; so he invested him with a dress of honour and took him into favour. Then he said to him, ‘Acquit me of the wrong I have done thee.’ And Ghanim did so, saying, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, the slave and all that is his belong to his lord.’ The Khalif was pleased with this and bade set apart a palace for Ghanim, on whom he bestowed great store of gifts and assigned him bountiful stipends and allowances, sending his mother and sister to live with him; after which, hearing that his sister Fitneh was indeed a seduction for beauty, he demanded her in marriage of Ghanim, who replied, ‘She is thy handmaid and I am thy servant.’ The Khalif thanked him and gave him a hundred thousand dinars; then summoned the Cadi and the