The king, sinking into the eddy of wonder at the artifices of the sky, sat in perfect silence, but involuntarily gazed on the wisdom-disturbing charms of the renders of patience and judgment. Inwardly did he give laud to the Designer free from fraud or deceit, who, with an handful of dust and some drops of water, had formed such wonderful figures on the pages of existence. In this situation, his eye fell on his own chaste wife, who in a retired part of the room, with the vizier’s lady and some other rose-cheeked dames, quaffed goblets of brilliantly sparkling wine, and in the intoxication of the grape and the rapture of delight, clasped her lover in embrace, shedding from her moist lips the life-giving fresh­ness on his mouth. At length arising, she advanced near, and looking at the king earnestly, said to the vizier’s lady, “The Eternal hath so formed alike the countenance of this young man with that of the king, that you would fancy he was my husband.” However, from the fumes of intoxication, she did not perfectly recognize him, and the great distance of her own country was also the means of doubt and cause of disbelief. Satisfied with this expression of wonder, she retired again towards the youth who was the sovereign of her heart.

The king, on hearing her exclama­tions, with all his valour and fortitude, from dread of his wife, had nearly quitted his mortal frame. Being at last dismissed from the private apartments, he hastened into the assembly of the men, and employed himself in thanksgivings to the divine preserver; resolving, should he arrive safely from this danger in his own dominions, that he would without hesitation or delay dispatch his wife to the pit of the lower regions. When the blush of earliest dawn had appeared, the two cats having come from within, passed swiftly by, and the king hastily fol­lowed them. As before, by means of the magical tree, he reached the envi­rons of his own capital; and, with the utmost speed having gained his palace before the arrival of the lightly-minded cats, affected to slumber on his bed: on which, soon after, the queen also lay down towards the edge.

When the gleams of day were shed abroad, and the roses of morning waved on the branches of the horizon, the vicious wife employed herself in the usual household affairs; but sleep over­powered the king, as the fatigue of being awake all night and the stretch of watch­fulness on the proceedings of the cats, had wearied him out. From the neglect of proper precaution and foresight, which are incumbent on the wise, the chain of pearls remained upon his silver-like arm; and when his eye unclosed from sleep, from heedlessness (that enemy to man) he did not think of conceal­ing it. Accidentally the queen’s eye fell upon it, and the guesses of the night were changed to certainty. His having been at the assembly appeared beyond a doubt, which became distasteful to her mind; and as the cat was now let out of the bag, she became furious, and said to the king, “What means this bracelet of jewels on thy arm? perhaps thou hast unknown to me ascended the marriage throne with a new bride?”

The imprudent prince, withdrawing his foot from the path of policy and the route of propriety, instantly lighted up his countenance with wrath, and said; “A truce with affected sorrows (whine not, swallow thy grief) and preparing for hell, expect the recompense of thy actions.” The infamous woman, when she heard these exclamations, be coming thoughtful on her own condi­tion, and imagining delay in this matter would be the cause of her own destruc­tion, having placed the foot of boldness on the carpet of foresight, breathed a charm over an handful of pebbles, and with hastiness threw them into the king’s face. Immediately upon this transaction, becoming deprived of human form, he was changed into the shape of a peacock with golden wings, and, like the grove­ling-minded, began to peck the ground with his bill.

When the entrusted with the offices of state were not for two or three days distinguished by the usual honouring audience, they represented by means of the confidential persons admitted to the Haram, thus; “May the cause of not giving public audience, and keep­ing us servants deprived of the honour of paying our gratulations, be only that of mirth and pleasure! Many public affairs, however, from this circumstance, are bound in the knot of delay, and urgent expectants waiting. If, for an instant only, by the splendor of the auspicious aspect, they would illume the night of the desire of the resigned, possibly, it may not be inconsistent with state policy.” The wicked queen, as if from the king’s mouth, in answer returned; “As in some degree illness has attacked our gracious person, at present the hurry of giving audience and transacting business, our head will not bear. It is proper that all the officers of government, engaging in prayer, beseech the throne of the divine Restorer for the health of our august person.”*

The loyal subjects and well-wishers to the king, on hearing this event, becoming involved in sorrow, returned home; but the vizier, who was graced by the jewels of fidelity and integrity, and the tablet of whose mind was stamped with the impressions of true attachment, was grieved above all. As he intimately knew the disposition of the king, he by his penetration divined, that being deprived of the robes of under­standing, he had become afflicted with such a fatal illness, that the reins of his own will remained not in the grasp of his power, and that he had no ability to manage his own affairs. At all events, the intelligent vizier having returned home, out of policy having flattered his wife with soft speeches and sweetening expressions, prevailed upon her, that having gone to the royal Haram and obtained knowledge of the king’s situa­tion, she should inform him of it without disguising any particular.

The vizier’s lady instantly repairing to the palace, on account of the confi­dence she held in the esteem of the queen, was, without the trouble of expectation, informed of the mystery; and returning home, acquainted the vizier of the circumstances of the affair. The minister on this account was much afflicted, and said within himself, “It is befitting that loyally-minded servants, in a time of difficulty and season of distress, should sacrifice their lives in the service of their patrons. If I, cherished by the bounty of this family, at such a crisis do not perform the duties of attachment, and deliver the king from this life-hazarding calamity, how can I return the obligations of protection and favour?” After this, having bound the sash of resolu­tion fast round the waist of his heart, he speeded on the foot of remedy; and having, by the guidance of instructive policy, procured a peacock, went to the palace-gate, and sent in this petition.

“At this time, when the enemies of this prosperous house are afflicted with bodily sickness,* I have heard, that a peacock is the means of amusing the august mind of the king. As this ardent follower in the path of sacrifice is deprived of enjoying the felicity of the auspicious looks, and debarred from the enlightened presence, he wishes that he may kiss at least* the foot of that peacock which is the cause of recreation to the exalted mind. If for an instant they would send it out, the head of the honour of this life-resigning servant will reach the heavens.”

The queen paying respect to the rank and high office of the vizier, at the insti­gation of weak policy, without attention to the rules of foresight and caution, sent the peacock to the vizier. He, regarding this as a most important acquisition, instantly sent in that he had brought with him, and conducting the transformed king to his house, spoke thus to his wife. “O thou, by whose smiles my heart and soul are fascinated, and to whose eloquence my property and treasure is a sacrifice, as our star is now favourable, the king has fallen alone into my hands, for I have brought the peacock by artifice from the royal Haram. If thou hast the art, send forth the breath of skill, and restore the king, whose elemental form has been changed, to its original state, that, according to my own wishes, I may obtain from him the royal edicts, and becoming co-partner with him in dominion and treasure, take half of this extensive kingdom into my own possession. Then, advancing the foot of honour higher than the rank of vizier, I will beat the royal drums on my own account, and place the crown of sovereignty on my head; and thou also wilt be among the most distin­guished princesses of the age.”

The vizier’s wife, though avidity of superfluous wealth and command of patronage tempted her, and she had lost the reins of prudence from her hands; yet, as she was a confidant in the secrets of the queen, wished not to give up the claims of friendship. She therefore said to her husband, “I will undertake this affair, on condition that, after the attainment of thy object, having again cloathed the king in the likeness of a peacock, I may deliver him back to the queen.” The vizier, rejoiced at these tidings, apparently consented to the terms of his wife, but within himself resolved to seat the king on the throne of safety, when once delivered from the desart of enchantment. Accordingly, at the instant when the sovereign was freed from such a calamity, he with the utmost celerity having drawn his keen sabre, separated the head of his wicked wife from her body, and struck her dead on the ground.

The king, who like one afflicted with a fit had recovered, having opened his eyes, gazed round on all sides, and stood astonished. At length he enquired of the vizier, saying, “What is the cause of my having descended from my palace to thy house, and how came thy wife into this horrible state?” The wise vizier informed him of the circumstances of affairs from beginning to conclusion; when the king, having praised his loyalty and attachment, asked him for council concerning his conduct. The vizier replied, “The measure most adviseable is this, that before the queen can gain intelligence of matters, thou shouldst convey thyself to a place of security; because, if thou shouldst again come into her clutches, (which may God avert!) a second escape would be impossible, and my head would also fall a sacrifice in the affair.”

The advice of the vizier appeared most acceptable to the king; and travel­ling by night, accompanied by him, he in a short time, having passed his own dominions, fixed his abode in a certain capital; and having cloathed himself in the habit of a devotee, sat down in the cell of retirement. After some time, the ruler of the country having obtained information of the august nature and con­dition of the king, sought alliance with him, and gave him his daughter in mar­riage. Though the king had great dislike to a fresh connection with women, yet, from the impulse of divine will and eternal decree, the affair was completed.

Sometime after the marriage, the king was sitting with his princess in a court of the palace playing at dice, when suddenly a kite hovering in the air, began to descend directly over his head, and fluttering its wings, began to scream. The new wife having looked at the bird, said, “Aught knowest thou, O king, who this kite is, and what is her meaning in this fluttering?” The king replied, “I know nothing, but that it flies as birds usually do in the air.” The lady exclaimed, “This is not a kite, but thy former queen; who, having disguised herself as a bird, is come with design to kill thee, nor is there any how an escape for thee, but by my means.” The king at this event becoming overwhelmed in the abyss of astonishment, trembled with fear for his life, and calling his vizier, acquainted him with the circumstance. The vizier said, “Do not in the least, O my sovereign, admit alarm or dread into thy mind; but ask the princess’s aid to destroy the kite.” The queen now said, “O wise vizier, it is incum­bent upon me to accomplish this business, for she who designeth the king’s death is also my most inveterate enemy. Speedily, I also having asscended in the form of a kite, will convey myself to her, when, after contending with our beaks and talons, we shall fall to the ground close to the king, who then exercising the utmost agility, must beat her to death with a club; but that he may not through mistake injure me, know, that the distinction between us will be a difference of colour in our wings and feathers. She is all black, and I shall be mottled with black and white.” The king esteeming this as an unexpected blessing, seized a club, and stood in ambush waiting the opportunity. At length the queen, being transformed, attacked the kite, and, in the manner above mentioned, fell with her to earth. The king with great joy arose, and said to the vizier, “Must I strike the black or the mottled?” The vizier replied, “Hast thou not heard, that the sandy haired cur is brother to the jackall? Though thou hast escaped the jaws of the crocodile, still thou hast fallen into the fangs of the wolf. The wisest measure is to kill them both, in order that thou mayest be wholly secure from the villainy of a race more revengeful than the wolf or serpent.” The king, accordingly, from the hint of the minister, dispatched both the impure wretches to the lower regions; and hav­ing escaped such dangers, for the future refrained from the society of women. He sat down in the cell of resignation and recess of abstinence; and, during the remainder of life, having employed him­self solely in the worship of the Most High, by means of penance gained future felicity and true glory.*