One day, another week, he went to hunt,
When indisposed, and took his bow and arrows.
The plain grew sultry with the blazing sun.
He came back from his hunting leisurely,
And reached a merchant's house, to whom he said,
On looking round and seeing none beside:
“Canst give us lodging since thou wilt not find us
A trouble?”

Having helped him to dismount

The merchant found a place for him. The Sháh,
Complaining of the colic, gave the merchant
Some drachms, and said: “Toast some old cheese
with almonds.”
The merchant did not do as he was asked,
Not having almonds by him, but, at night-fall
And at his leisure, got a hot roast fowl,
And served it to Bahrám upon a tray,
Who said: “I asked thee for old cheese, besought thee
To bring it, and thou hast not brought it me
Although I gave thee drachms and had complained
Of colic.”

Said the merchant: “Foolish fellow!

Thy soul is starving through thy lack of wit.
Since I have brought to thee this hot roast fowl
Mere shame should stay thee asking aught beside.”
Bahrám thereat ceased longing for old cheese.
Grieved at his words he ate, referring not
To what had passed. When it was sleeping-time
He slept and said naught further to the merchant.
Now when the sun rose o'er the heaving deep,
And when the Cloak pitch-hued had disappeared,
The wealthy merchant said to his apprentice:—
“O simpleton! why didst thou buy a fowl
Not worth a drachm for more and wrong me so?
Had't been a proper fowl then he and I
Had fallen not out last night, or hadst thou spent
A quarter of a drachm in buying cheese
He would have been to me like milk and water
To-day.”

The apprentice answered: “'Tis all one.

Know that the fowl is at my charge. Be thou
And he my guests, so quarrel not with me
About the bird.”

Now when Bahrám arose

From pleasant sleep he sought his docile steed
To saddle it and go back to his palace,
And from his palace raise his crown to Saturn.
The apprentice, seeing him, said to Bahrám:—
“Give to thy slave thy company to-day.”
The Sháh returned, sat down again, and mar-
velled
At fortune. Then the youth went out and fetched
Two hundred almonds and addressed his master:—
“Bestir thee, sir! and have these almonds toasted,
Make ready too some cheese and some new bread,
For such the cavalier asked yesterday,
Bring food and spread the board.”

He went before

Bahrám and said: “O cavalier! I bring thee

All hot what yesterday thou didst require,
And there is more to follow in due course.”
Thus saying he set off to the bázár,
A different sort of purchaser. He bought
More almonds, sugar, fowl, and lamb to make
An ample meal, wine, saffron, musk, rose-water,
And hurried home. He brought the board all spread
With dainty meats. A sprightly youth was he
And well disposed. The eating done, he brought
Forth cups of wine, first serving king Bahrám,
And thus, till blithe and jocund, they proceeded
From eating to the cup. The Sháh addressed
His entertainer thus: “Bahrám will be
Inquiring for me, but do ye drink on,
Grow drunk, and budge not till ye prove yourselves
Wine-worshippers.”

Then rubbing down and saddling

Shabdíz he started, blithe with wine, for court,
First saying to the merchant: “Toil not so
In quest of gain, O thou that sellest dear!
Thou wouldst have sold me for a quarter drachm
Yestreen, sewn up the eyes of thine apprentice
Because he bought a fowl above the price,
And have put me within the dragon's maw.”
He spake and sped back to his royal seat.
Now when the sun displayed its crown in heaven
The guardian of the world sat on his throne
Of ivory and bade the chamberlain
Seek out the merchant and conduct him thither
With his apprentice. One of them was glad,
The other glum. Bahrám, on seeing the apprentice,
Made much of him and seated him rejoicing
Among the lords. They brought to him a purse,
And made his awe-gloomed spirit like the moon.
Then to the merchant said Bahrám: “Know this:
Thou shalt be slave for life to thine apprentice,
And, further, pay him twice in every month
Three score drachms from thy savings. With thy
goods
He shall be entertainer and make laugh
The hearts of noble men.”

Then to the high priest:—

“The king that disregardeth this world's doings,
How can he know what man is truly great,
Or how discern the evil from the good?”*

So now, O sage that seekest wisdom's way!
If thou must have a saw hear what I say:—
“Avoid all avarice if man thou be,
Or be indeed below humanity.”