Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 8.djvu/263

251 thou escaped with thy life and not fallen into this perdition, from which there is no deliverance; and now not one of us can rescue thee from this strait.” So the man gave up hope of life and lost that which was in his hand and for which his soul had prompted him to venture himself and perish miserably. And I tell thee not this parable, O king,’ added Shimas, ‘but that thou mayst leave this contemptible thing that diverteth thee from thy duties and look to that which is committed to thee of the governance of thy people and the maintenance of the order of thy kingdom, so that none may see fault in thee.’

‘What wouldst thou have me do?’ asked the king, and Shimas said, ‘To-morrow, if thou be in good health and case, give the folk leave to come in to thee and look into their affairs and excuse thyself to them and promise them good governance and prosperity.’ ‘O Shimas,’ answered the king, ‘thou hast spoken advisedly; and to-morrow, if it be the will of God the Most High, I will do that which thou counsellest me.’ So the vizier went out from him and told the folk what he had said to him; and on the morrow the king came forth of his seclusion and bade admit the people, to whom he excused himself, promising them that thenceforward he would deal with them as they wished, wherewith they were content and departed each to his dwelling.

Then one of the king’s women, who was his best-beloved of them and most in honour with him, went in to him and seeing him pale and thoughtful over his affairs, by reason of that which he had heard from his chief vizier, said to him, ‘O king, how comes it that I see thee troubled in mind? Doth aught ail thee?’ ‘No,’ answered he; ‘but my pleasures have distracted me from my duties and I know not what hath possessed me to be thus negligent of my affairs and those of my subjects. If I continue on this wise, ere long the kingdom will pass out