Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/378

344 said to him, “What hast thou to say?” “Return to the Cadi,” quoth he, “and say to him, ‘It was agreed between myself and them that I should not give them back the purse, except all four of them were present. Let them all four come and I will give them the purse, as was agreed.’” So she went back to the Cadi and said to him as the boy had counselled; and he said to the merchants, “Was it thus agreed between you?” “Yes,” answered they. “Then bring me your fellow,” said the Cadi, “and take the purse.” So they went in quest of their fellow, whilst the keeper came off scot free and went her way without hindrance.’ When the King’s viziers and those who were present in the assembly heard the prince’s words, they said to his father, ‘O our Lord the King, of a truth thy son is the most accomplished man of his time,’ and they called down blessings upon the King and the prince. Then the King strained his son to his bosom and kissed him between the eyes and questioned him of what had passed between the favourite and himself; and the prince swore to him, by God the Supreme and by His Holy Prophet, that it was she who had required him of love and he refused. ‘Moreover,’ said he, ‘she promised me that she would give thee poison to drink and kill thee, so should the kingship be mine; whereupon I waxed wroth and said to her, [by signs] “O accursed one, when I can speak, I will requite thee.” So, in her fear of me, she did as thou hast seen.’ The King believed his words and sending for the damsel, said to those present, ‘How shall we put this damsel to death?’ Some counselled to cut out her tongue and other some to burn it with fire; but, when she came before the King, she said to him, ‘My case with thee is like unto the story of the fox and the folk.’ ‘How so?’ asked he; and she said, ‘I have heard tell, O King, that