After this the Khwája called for bread and wine and singers, and we began our banquet. When I had drunk some cups of wine, I exclaimed, “May the Khwája live long! This day is propitious, I have another request to make.” He said, “Tell me, and you shall find a ready compliance.” I said, “I saw Abú-l Fath carrying a leather water-bag, but he is a shocking bad stable-man; although he deserves punishment, still he has many and strong claims for services rendered. The Sultán knows him, and acts upon the principles of Amír Mahmúd. If he sees him he will pardon him also.” He said, “Very good; do so, let him be called.” So he was brought, and he came forward dressed in the same threadbare garment. He kissed the ground and arose. The Khwája asked him, “Do you repent speaking indecently?” He replied, “O lord! the water-bag and the stable have forced me to repent.” The Khwája laughed and ordered him to be con­ducted to the warm bath and newly clad. When he came back he kissed the ground again; he was told to sit down, and dinner was ordered to be brought for him, of which he partook. After this, he was asked to take some wine, and was comforted and sent home. This being done, we drank deeply, and I then re­turned. “O Bú-l Fazl! (continued Bú Nasr) this Ahmad is a great noble, but he is fond of revenge; and I am in great distress about the course he has taken, for it is impossible that it should be approved. The Sultán will not allow him to swallow up his servants. I do not know what will be the end of these proceed­ings. Keep these words secret: go back and do your work, for you have to go to the Amír.”

I came back and prepared to go. Then I went to him again and he gave me a sealed letter, which I took and set out for the hunting-place. I reached there about the time of evening prayer. I found that the Sultán had been drinking all day, and had now gone to his private tent. I took the letter to Agháchí, the king's attendant, and having given it to him, I went and stood by the curtain at the entrance of the tent. In the morning a Farrásh having come to call me, I went, and Agháchí took me before the Amír, who was sitting in a sedan in his royal tent. I saluted him. He said, “tell Bú Nasr that what he has done in behalf of Hasírí was quite right. But I am coming to the city directly and I will do what is necessary.” He threw the letter to me, and I took it up and returned. The Amír said the morn­ing prayer and set out towards the city. I arrived sooner, and I saw near the city, my ustád and the great Khwája standing with all the officers and ministers of the court to receive the Sultán. Bú Nasr saw me, but said nothing; I kept in my place. The insignia and the umbrella of the Sultán advanced. The Amír was on horseback; the people went forward. My ustád came to me and made a signal, so I approached him. He covertly asked me what I had done and what had passed. I told him all, and he said, “I understand.” The Amír then arrived, and all mounted and marched on. The Khwája was on the right of the Amír and Bú Nasr just before his majesty; the other officers and grandees were in front, so that there should be no crowding. The Amír kept conversing with the Khwája till they approached the garden. The Amír asked what was to be done in respect of that reckless man. The Khwája said, “Let his Majesty deign to alight and then what has passed and what is proper to be done his humble servant will report through Bú Nasr.” He said, “Very good,” and moved on. The Amír went to the Khizrá,* and the Khwája sat down on the ministerial bench; he called my ustád and gave him this message, “My lord, in his magnanimous pleasure, has secured what he considered due to me in this case of Hasírí, and I shall be under obligation to him for this favour as long as I live. Although Hasírí is a vain, boast­ing fellow, yet he is an old man, and has claims for his long service. He has always been a dutiful and faithful friend, and because of his loyalty he has, like myself, endured many hard­ships. His son is wiser and more prudent than himself, and is fit for any duty. Two proper men like these will not soon be found again, and now my lord stands in need of many able servants. How then can I allow two such devoted followers to be overthrown. My object was only this, that all men, great and small, might know how far his majesty was favourably dis­posed towards me. I have succeeded in that object, and all men have learned that they must keep within their respective bounds. I was fully aware that they ought not to be beaten. But I sent them to be confined so that they may awake a little. They have given a bond of their own free will, promising to pay three hundred thousand dínárs into the royal treasury, but they cannot pay this without being reduced to beggary, and a servant should not be destitute. If his majesty pleases, my recommen­dation in their behalf should not be rejected. Let them be excused from paying the money, and send them both home honourably.”

Bú Nasr went and delivered this noble message. The Amír was highly pleased, and answered, “I accept the Khwája's plea for them. The matter is entirely in his hands. If he thinks proper let him dismiss them, and give back the bond.” Bú Nasr returned and informed the Khwája of this. The Amír left the public hall and went into his palace. The Khwája also returned to his house. He ordered two of his own horses to be taken to the gate of the prison. The father and the son were both mounted on them, and conducted respectfully to the Khwája. When they came before him they kissed the ground and sat down. The Khwája for a little while admonished Hasírí in firm but kind words, till he made his apologies. It was a good thing that he was old. The Khwája treated him kindly, took him in his arms, and made apologies and comforted him. He also kissed his face, and told him to go in the same dress to his house. He said, I do not like to change your clothes, for to­morrow the Sultán will grant you khil'ats. Hasírí kissed the Khwája's hand and the ground. His son did the same. They then returned home riding on the Khwája's horses. In their passage both father and son were greeted by the people with loud acclamations and congratulations. I, Bú-l Fazl, was their neigh­bour. I hastened to go to them sooner than the other visitors. Hasírí privately told me that as long as he lived he should not be able to make a return of Khwája Bú Nasr's kindness, but that he would thank him and pray for him. I, however, did not speak a word to him about what had passed, lest he should be ashamed, but I gave him my blessing and retired. I told my ustád what had happened, and he mounted to go and congratu­late him. I also accompanied him. Hasírí with his son came forward to receive him. They sat down, and both expressed their thanks. Bú Nasr said, “My efforts in the matter are well known to you, but you must thank the Sultán and the Khwája.” He said this and took his leave.

One or two weeks after I heard Bú Nasr say that the Amír, while drinking wine in a private party, spoke to Hasírí about what had passed. That day Hasírí was dressed in a yellow coat, and his son in a Pandárí coat, very magnificent and highly ornamented. Next day they were again brought before the Sultán, and he showed them attention. The Khwája requested that they might be taken to the wardrobe, when, according to the king's order, a dress was bestowed on each. They came from thence to the Khwája, and then with great honour they were both conducted from the Khwája's presence to their house. The citizens showed them due honour.

They are all now gone except his (Hasírí's) son Abú-l Kásim, who still survives. May the mercy of God be upon them all. Every one who reads this passage must examine it with intel­ligence, and draw lessons from it, and not consider it a mere story. They will thus learn what great men there were in days gone by.