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etided me after them！' And he abode all that day sunken in the sea of troublous thought； eating not neither drinking。
When the night came； he arose and changing his raiment； donned old clothes and disguised himself and went forth at a venture to walk about the city； so haply he might hear some fortable word。 As he wandered about the streets； he chanced upon two boys of equal age； each about twelve years old； who sat talking under a wall： so he drew near them whereas he might hear and apprehend what they said； unseen of them； and heard one say to the other； 'O my brother； hear what my father told me yesternight of the calamity that hath betided him in the withering of his crops； before their time； by reason of the lack of rain and the great affliction that is fallen on this city。' Quoth the other； 'Knowst thou not the cause of this affliction？' 'Not I；' answered the first。 'I prithee； tell it me； if thou know it。' 'Yes；' rejoined the second； 'I know it and will tell it thee。 Know that I have heard from one of my father's friends that our king put his viziers and ministers to death； without offence done of them； by reason of his love for women and inclination to them； for that his viziers forbade him from this； but he would not be forbidden and manded to slay them； in obedience to his women。 Thus he killed Shimas my father； who was his vizier and the vizier of his father before him and the chief of his council； but thou shalt see how God will do with him by reason of his sins against them and how He shall avenge them of him。' 'How so？' asked the first boy。
'Know；' replied his fellow； 'that the King of Farther India maketh light of our king and hath sent him a letter； rating him and saying to him； 〃Build me a castle amiddleward the sea； or I will send unto thee Bediya my vizier； with twelve squadrons of horse； each twelve thousand strong； to seize upon thy kingdom and slay thy men and take thee and thy women prisoners。〃 And he hath given him three days' time to answer。 Now thou must know； O my brother； that this King of Farther India is a masterful tyrant； a man of might and exceeding prowess； and in his realm are much people； wherefore； except our king make shift to fend him off from himself； he will fall into perdition； whilst the King of Hind will seize on our possessions and slay our men and make prize of our women。〃 When the king heard this talk； his agitation redoubled and he inclined to the boys； saying； 'Surely； this boy is a wizard； in that he is acquainted with this thing； for the letter is with me and the secret also and none hath knowledge of this matter but myself。 How then knoweth this boy of it？ I will resort unto him and talk with him and I pray God that our deliverance may be at his hand。'
Then he approached the boy softly and said to him； 'O dear boy； what is this thou sayest of our king； that he did ill to the utterest in slaying his viziers and the chiefs of his state？ Indeed； he sinned against himself and his people and thou art right in that which thou sayest。 But tell me； O my son； whence knowest thou that the King of Farther India hath written him a letter； berating him and bespeaking him with the grievous speech whereof thou tellest？' 'O brother；' answered the boy； 'I know this from the sand （184） wherewith I tell the tale of night and day and from the saying of the ancients； 〃No mystery is hidden from God；〃 for the sons of Adam have in them a spiritual virtue which discovers to them hidden secrets。' 'True； O my son；' answered Wird Khan； 'but whence learnedly thou the ＇art of divination by＇ sand； and thou young of years？' Quoth the boy； 'My father taught it me；' and the king said； 'Is thy father alive or dead？' 'He is dead；' answered the boy。
Then said Wird Khan； 'Is there any resource or device for our king； whereby he may ward off this sore calamity from himself and his kingdom？' And the boy answered； 'It befits not that I speak with thee ＇of this＇； but； if the king send for me and ask me how he shall do to baffle his enemy and win free of his snares； I with that wherein； by the power of God the Most High； shall be his deliverance。' 'But who shall tell the king of this；' asked Wird Khan； 'that he may send for thee？' Quoth the boy； 'If I hear that he seeketh men of experience and good counsel； I will go up with them to him and tell him that wherein shall be his welfare and the warding off of this affliction from him； but； if he neglect this pressing matter and busy himself with his pleasures among his women and I go to him of my own motion； purposing to acquaint him with the means of deliverance； he will assuredly give orders to slay me； even as he slew those his viziers； and my courtesy to him will be the cause of my destruction； wherefore the folk will think meanly of me and belittle my wit and I shall be of those of whom it is said； 〃He whose learning exceeds his wit perishes by his ignorance。〃'
When the king heard the boy's speech； he was assured of his sagacity and the excellence of his merit was manifest unto him。 So he was certified that deliverance would betide him and his subjects at the boy's hands and said to him； 'Whence art thou and where is thy house？' 'This is the wall of our house；' answered he。 The king took note of the place and leaving the boy； returned to his palace； rejoicing。 There he changed his clothes and called for meat and drink； forbidding his women access to him。 Then he ate and drank and returned thanks to God the Most High and besought Him of succour and deliverance。 Moreover he craved His pardon and fiveness for that which he had done with his counsellors of state and ministers and turned to Him with sincere repentance； imposing on himself prayer and fasting galore； by way of votive offering。
On the morrow； he called one of his chief officers and describing to him the boy's abidingplace； bade him go thither and bring him to his presence with all gentleness So the officer sought out the boy and said to him； 'The king bids thee to him； that good may betide thee from him and that he may ask thee a question； then shalt thou return in peace to thy dwelling。' 'What is the king's occasion with me？' asked the boy； and the officer said； 'My lord's occasion with thee is question and answer。' 'A thousand times hearkening and a thousand times obedience to the mandment of the king！' answered the boy and acpanied the officer to the palace。 When he came into the presences he prostrated himself before God and saluting the king； called down blessings on him。 Wird Khan returned his salutation and bade him sit。 So he sat down and the king said to him； 'Knowst thou who walked with thee yesternight？' 'Yes；' answered the boy； and the king said； 'And where is he？' 'It is he who speaketh with me at this present；' replied the boy。 'Thou sayst sooth； O friend；' rejoined the king and bade set him a chair beside his own； whereon he made him sit and called for meat and drink。
Then they talked awhile and the king said； 'O vizier； （185） thou toldest me yesternight that thou hadst a device wherewith thou couldst fend off from us the malice of the King of Hind。 What is this device and how shall we contrive to ward off his mischief from us？ Tell me； that I may make thee chief of those who