Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/46

28 But he clave to his error and followed his lusts And thought to enjoy her perforce, unaware Of that which God willed to him. Sudden there came Repentance on him, though he purposed it ne’er. Fast fated, O God, are men’s fortunes; Toto [sic] man If his destiny fare not, to it he must fare.’ [sic] THE DEVOTEE TO WHOM GOD GAVE A CLOUD TO SERVE HIM AND THE DEVOUT KING.

There was once among the children of Israel a man of the devout, renowned for piety and continence and asceticism. He was a wanderer in the mountains and was used to pass the night in prayer; and God answered his prayers and gave him all he asked. Moreover, He had subjected to him a cloud, that journeyed with him, wherever he went, and poured water on him copiously, that he might make his ablutions and drink. After a time, his fervour abated, whereupon God took the cloud away from him and ceased to answer his prayers. Great was his grief because of this, and he ceased not to regret the time of grace and divine favour and to lament and bemoan himself, till, one night, he saw in a dream one who said to him, ‘An thou wouldst have God restore thee thy cloud, seek out such a king, in such a town, and beg him to pray for thee: so will God give thee back thy cloud, by virtue of his pious prayers.’ And he repeated the following verses:

I rede thee to the pious prince repair, Who’s powerful to order thine affair. An he pray God for thee, the thing thou seekst Of rain galore shall reach thee at his prayer. Among the Kings in worth he doth excel And is illustrious beyond compare.