Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/79

61 nor was any ware of our case; who then told thee of all these things?’ ‘My Lord told me,’ answered Solomon, ‘He who knoweth the perfidy of the eye and what is hidden in the breasts.’ Quoth Faris, ‘O prophet of God, verily this is none other than a noble and mighty Lord, able unto all things.’ And he and his company embraced the faith of Islam.

Then said Solomon to him, ‘Thou hast with thee such and such presents and rarities.’ And Faris answered, ‘Yes.’ Quoth the prophet, ‘I accept them all and give them unto thee. So do ye rest, thou and thy company, in the place where you have been lodging, so the fatigue of the journey may cease from you; and to-morrow, thine errand shall be accomplished to the uttermost, if it be the will of God the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth and Creator of all creatures.’

So Faris returned to his lodging and on the morrow presented himself before the lord Solomon, who said to him, ‘When thou returnest to King Aasim, do ye both go forth to such a place, where ye will find a tree. Mount upon it and sit silent until the mid-hour between the prayer of noon and that of the afternoon, when the midday heat hath subsided; then descend and look at the foot of the tree, whence ye will see two serpents issue, one with an ape’s head and the other with a head like that of an Afrit. Shoot them with arrows and kill them; then cut off a span’s length from their heads and the like from their tails and throw it away. The rest of the flesh cook and cook well and give it to your wives to eat: then lie with them that night and by God’s leave, they will conceive and bear male children.’ Moreover, he gave him a ring and a signet and a sword and a wrapper containing a tunic embroidered with gold and jewels, saying, ‘O Vizier Faris, when your sons grow up to man’s estate, give them each two of these things.’ Then said