Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 3.djvu/48

32 who told me that I should fall into a great danger and escape from it. So now I know that my falling into thy hand and my escape are the fulfilment of my dream, and thou, O ignorant dupe, knowest me for thine enemy; so how canst thou, of thine ignorance and lack of wit, hope for deliverance at my hands, after all thou hast heard of harsh words from me, and wherefore should I endeavour for thy deliverance, whenas the wise have said, “In the death of the wicked is peace for mankind and purgation for the earth?” Yet, but that I fear to reap more affliction by keeping faith with thee than could follow perfidy, I would do my endeavour to save thee.’ When the wolf heard this, he bit his paws for despite and was at his wit’s end what to do. Then he gave the fox fair words, but this availed nought; so he said to him softly, ‘Verily, you foxes are the most pleasant spoken of folk and the subtlest in jest, and this is but a jest of thine; but all times are not good for sport and jesting.’ ‘O dolt,’ answered the fox, ‘jesting hath a limit, that the jester overpasses not, and deem not that God will again give thee power over me, after having once delivered me from thee.’ Quoth the wolf, ‘It behoves thee to endeavour for my release, by reason of our brotherhood and fellowship, and if thou deliver me, I will assuredly make fair thy reward.’ ‘The wise say,’ rejoined the fox, ‘“Fraternize not with the ignorant and wicked, for he will shame thee and not adorn thee,—nor with the liar, for if thou do good, he will hide it, and if evil, he will publish it;” and again, “There is help for everything but death: all may be mended, save natural depravity, and everything may be warded off, except Fate.” As for the reward thou promisest me, I liken thee therein to the serpent that fled from the charmer. A man saw her affrighted and said to her, “What ails thee, O serpent?” Quoth she, “I am fleeing from the serpent-charmer, who is in chase of me,