Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 8.djvu/219

207 and equity among thy subjects, in that which is acceptable to God the Most High. By reason of this hath God exalted thy dignity and made thy days happy and bestowed on thee the good gift of this happy child, after thou hadst despaired, wherefrom there hath betided us abiding gladness and joyance that may not be cut off; for before this we were in exceeding anxiety and sore concern, because of thy lack of issue, and full of care, bethinking us of all thy justice and gentle dealing with us and fearful lest God decree death to thee and there be none to succeed thee and inherit the kingdom after thee, and so we be divided in our counsels and dissensions arise between us and there befall us what befell the crows.’ ‘And what befell the crows?’ asked the king. ‘Know, O august king,’ replied the vizier, ‘that THE CROWS AND THE HAWK.

There was once, in a certain desert, a spacious valley, full of streams and trees and fruits and birds singing the praises of God, the One, the All-powerful, Creator of day and night; and among them was a troop of crows, which led the goodliest of lives under the governance of one of their number, who ruled them with mildness and benignity, so that they were with him in peace and security; and by reason of their wise ordinance of their affairs, none of the other birds could avail against them. In course of time there befell their chief that which is irrevocably appointed to all creatures and he died; whereupon the others mourned sore for him, and what added to their grief was that there was not amongst them one like unto him, who should fill his place. So they all assembled and took counsel together of whom it befitted to set over them: and some of them chose one crow, saying, “It