Page:The Shaving of Shagpat (1856).djvu/313



as a river swelleth with the rains the breath of applause puffed Shagpat, and his arrogance increased, and he was a very Nile-flood of presumption, swamping the city, so that my Viziership made me a mark for his followers and supporters, and the King regarded him with the eye of preference. So I shivered in the shadow of neglect, waiting till thy work was done and the Sword reached, to taste the sweetness of revenge on Shagpat; patience with the plotter! Now there came on a certain day, and it was the day of the New Year, one, a merchant, into the market-place of the City where we were assembled, proclaiming a marvel, and it was a lamp, the light of which none of the people could extinguish. The merchant handed it to me, and I blew upon it, but still it burned steadfast; then the merchant held the lamp to the mouth of Shagpat, and he blew, and lo, the flame vanished! So the people extolled Shagpat, and the merchant prostrated himself, and said, "I know by this there is holiness in thee!"

Now the merchant handed it to us again to bring back the light, and none of us could bring it back