It is incumbent on the King, wherever he goes, to prove such companions and servants as he has with him; and if one is a believer in the Holy Law, and scrupulously observes the rites and duties thereof, he should make him an intimate, and treat him with honour, and confide in him; but if otherwise, he should drive him away, and guard even the outskirts of his environment from his very shadow. Whoever does not believe in the religion and law of Muḥammad the Chosen One, in him can no man trust, and he is unlucky, both to himself and to his master.
In the beginning of the reign of the king Sulṭán Ghiyáthu'd-Dunyá wa'd-Dín Muḥammad b. Maliksháh, styled Qasímu Amíri'l-Múminín (may God illuminate his proof!),*
the King of the Arabs, Sadaqa,*
revolted and withdrew his neck from the yoke of allegiance, and with fifty thousand Arab horsemen marched on Baghdad from Ḥilla. The Prince of Believers al-Mustadhhir bi'lláh had sent off letter after letter and courier after courier to Isfahán,*
summoning the Sultan, who sought from the astrologers the determination of the auspicious moment. But no such determination could be made which would suit the Lord of the King's Ascendant, which was retrograde. So they said, “We find no auspicious moment.” “Seek it, then,” said he; and he was very urgent in the matter, and much vexed in mind. And so the astrologers fled.
Now there was a stranger of Jayy*
who had a shop by the Gate of the Dome and who used to take omens; and men and women of every class used to visit him, and he used to write for them amulets and charms, but he had no profound knowledge. By means of an acquaintance with one of the King's servants he brought himself to the King's notice, and said: “I will find an auspicious moment: depart in that, and if thou dost not return victorious, then cut off my head.”
So the King was pleased, and mounted his horse at the moment declared auspicious by him, and gave him two hundred dínárs of Níshápúr, and went forth, fought with Ṣadaqa, defeated his army, took him captive, and put him to death. And when he returned triumphant and victorious to Isfahán, he heaped favours on the soothsayer, ordered him to receive great honours, and made him one of his intimates. Then he summoned the astrologers and said: “You did not find an auspicious moment, it was this stranger of Jayy who found it; and I went, and God justified the omen.*
Probably Ṣadaqa had sent you a bribe so that you should not name the auspicious time.” Then they all fell to the earth, lamenting and exclaiming: “The astrologers were not satisfied with that moment. If you wish, write a message and send it to Khurásán, and see what Khwája Imám 'Umar Khayyám says.”
The King saw that the poor wretches did not speak amiss. He therefore summoned one of his courtiers and said: “Invite this stranger of Jayy*
to your house, drink wine with him, and treat him with kindly familiarity; and, when he is overcome with wine, enquire of him, saying, ‘Was that moment determined by thee not good? For the astrologers find fault with it. Tell me the secret of this.’”
Then the courtier did so, and, when his guest was drunk, made this enquiry of him. The soothsayer answered: “I knew that one of two things must happen; either that army would be defeated, or this one. If the former, then I should be loaded with honours; and if the latter, how should the King concern himself with me?”
Next day the courtier reported this conversation to the King, who ordered the strange soothsayer to be expelled, because one who held such views about good Musulmáns was unlucky. Then*
the King summoned his own astrologers and restored his confidence to them, saying: “I knew that this soothsayer never said his prayers, and one who agrees not with our Holy Law agrees not with us.”