Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/273

241 the land of Khorassan? The voice of the summoner of death called them and they answered him, and the herald of destruction hailed them and they replied, saying, “Here are we.” Verily, that which they builded and fortified profited them not, neither did what they had gathered and provided [against a time of stress] avail for their defence.’

And at the foot of the tablet were graven the following verses:

The Amir wept and exclaimed, ‘By Allah, we are indeed created for a grave matter!’ Then he copied the above inscription and passed on to the third tablet, whereon was written what follows: ‘O son of Adam, thou busiest thee with the love of the world and neglectest the commandment of thy Lord. All the days of thy life pass by and thou art content to live thus. Make ready thy provision against the appointed day and prepare to answer the Lord of all creatures.’

And at the foot were written these verses:

At this Mousa wept sore, then, going on to the fourth tablet, he read the following inscription thereon: ‘O son of Adam, how long shall thy Lord bear with thee and thou

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