WHEN the sun had gone down in the west, and the moon was risen in the east, Khojisteh put on fine attire, and, going to the parrot, said, “Although I am able of myself to go to my lover, still I do not think it adviseable without your consent, because I rely on your judgment: be expeditious to-night in giv-ing me permission.” The parrot answered, “My mistress, they who are wise do nothing without deliberation; you possess a good understanding, and therefore will never act rashly. I am well assured, that if any one should choose to act ini-mically towards you, such will be your manage-ment that no misfortune will befall you: just as the merchant wisely contrived.” Khojisteh asked, “What is the nature of his story?”

The parrot began: “In time of yore, there was a wise merchant who had a vicious horse. One day, during the time the merchant was eating a meal, a person arrived on a mare, and, having alighted, wanted to tie his mare near the merchant's horse. The merchant said to him, Don't tie her near my horse! The man did not mind, but tied his mare close to the merchant's horse, and then sat him-self down to eat with the merchant; who, there-upon said, What kind of person art thou, thus to sit down at my table uninvited? The man feigned himself deaf, and did not give any answer. The merchant imagined the man was deaf or dumb, and being helpless said nothing further. A moment after, the merchant's horse kicked the mare so violently that her belly was ripped open, and she died. The owner began to dispute with the mer-chant, saying, Your horse has killed my mare, cer-tainly I will make you pay me her value. In short, he went and lodged his complaint before the Cazy, who cited the merchant, and he obeyed the sum-mons, but pretended to be dumb, and did not give any answer to all the Cazy's interrogatories. The Cazy observed, the merchant is dumb, and is not in the least to blame. The plaintiff asked the Judge, How do you know he is dumb? at the time I wanted to tie my mare near his horse he said to me, Don't tie! Now he feigns himself dumb. The Cazy remarked, if he warned you against the accident, what then is his fault? Go from hence! you are a bastard, and a blockhead; you have made your own tongue convict you.”

The parrot, having finished the story, said, “Now go to your lover.” She wanted to have gone; at the very time the cock crowed, and the dawn appear­ing, her visit was put off.