Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/76

58 and grandees of the realm and officers and [other] thethe [other] [sic] folk may enter [and apply themselves] to thy service, as of their wont; for they all went forth from thee, troubled at heart on thine account. Then will I go out and set forth on the king’s errand.’

So the king arose forthright and sat down on the throne of his kingship, whilst the vizier went forth and said to the chief chamberlain, ‘Bid the folk proceed to their service, as of their wont.’ So the troops and captains and notables of the kingdom entered, after they had spread the tables, and ate and drank and withdrew, according to their wont, after which the vizier went out from King Aasim and repairing to his own house, equipped himself for travel and returned to the king, who opened to him the treasuries and provided him with rarities and things of price and rich stuffs and gear without a match, such as nor amir nor vizier could avail to possess. Moreover, he charged him to accost Solomon with reverence, foregoing him with the salutation; ‘then,’ continued he, ‘do thou ask of him thy need, and if he assent, return to us in haste, for I shall be awaiting thee.’ Accordingly, the vizier took the presents and setting out, fared on night and day, till he came within fifteen days’ journey of Seba.

Meanwhile God (blessed and exalted be He!) spoke unto Solomon and said to him, ‘O Solomon, the King of Egypt sendeth unto thee his chief vizier, with a present of such and such rarities and things of price; so do thou despatch thy vizier Asef ben Berkhiya to him, to receive him with honour and meet him at the halting-places with victual; and when he cometh to thy presence, say to him, “The king [thy master] hath sent thee in quest of this and that and thy business is thus and thus.” Then do thou propound to him the faith.’ Whereupon Solomon bade his vizier take a company of his retainers [and go forth] to meet the Vizier of Egypt with honour and