Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 8.djvu/265

253 which he could come, so that the nuts fell and the thieves picked them up and ate [some] and hid [other some] till they were all full, except the boy, who had eaten nought.

As they were thus engaged, up came the owner of the garden and said to them, “What do ye with this tree?” “We have taken nought thereof,” answered they; “but we were passing by and seeing yonder boy on the tree, concluded that he was the owner thereof and besought him to give us to eat of the fruit. So he fell to shaking the branches, that the nuts dropped down, and we are not at fault.” Quoth the master to the boy, “What sayst thou?” And he answered, “These men lie; but I will tell thee the truth. It is that we all came hither together and they bade me climb the tree and shake its branches, that the nuts might fall down to them, and I obeyed them.” “Verily,” said the master, “thou hast brought thyself into parlous case; but hast thou profited to eat aught of the fruit?” And he said, “I have eaten nought thereof.” “Now know I thy stupidity and folly,” rejoined the owner of the garden, “in that thou hast wroughten to ruin thyself and advantage others.” Then said he to the thieves, “Go your ways: I have no resort against you.” But he laid hands on the boy and punished him. On like wise,’ added the favourite, ‘thy viziers and officers of state would sacrifice thee to their interests and do with thee as did the thieves with the boy.’ ‘Thou sayst sooth,’ answered the king, ‘and I will not go forth to them nor leave my pleasures.’

Then he passed the night with his wife in all delight till the morning, when the chief vizier arose and assembling the officers of state, together with those of the folk who were present with them, repaired with them to the palace, glad and rejoicing [in the anticipation of good]. But the door opened not nor did the king come forth unto them nor give them leave to go in to him. So, when they