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of our desire： wherefore to Him be the praise in this world and the next。
KING JELYAAD OF HIND AND HIS VIZIER SHIMAS； WHEREAFTER ENSUETH THE HISTORY OF KING WIRD KHAN； SON OF KING JELYAAD； WITH HIS WOMEN AND VIZIERS。
There was once； of old days and in bygone ages and times； in the land of Hind； a mighty king； tall and goodly of parts and presence； noble and generous of nature； beneficent to the poor and loving the tillers of the soil and all the people of his kingdom。 His name was Jelyaad and under his hand were twoandseventy ＇vassal＇ kings and in his cities three hundred and fifty Cadis。 He had threescore and ten viziers and over every ten of them he set a chief。 The chiefest of all his viziers was a man called Shimas； who was then （141） twoandtwenty years old； a man of ely presence and noble nature； pleasant of speech and quick in reply。 Moreover； he was shrewd and skilful in all manner of business； for all his tender age； sagacious； a man of good counsel and government； versed in all arts and sciences and acplishments； and the king loved him with an exceeding love and cherished him by reason of his proficiency in eloquence and rhetoric and the art of government and for that which God had given him of passion and tender solicitude for the people； for he was a king just in his governance and a protector of his subjects； constant in beneficence to great and small and giving them that which befitted them of good governance and bounty and protection and security and a lightener of their burdens。 And indeed he was loving to them all； high and low； entreating them with kindness and clemency and governing them on such goodly wise as none had done before him。 But； with all this； God the Most High had not blessed him with a child； and this was grievous to him and to the people of his kingdom。
It chanced； one night； as the king lay in his bed； occupied with anxious thought of the issue of the affair of his kingdom； that sleep overcame him and he dreamt that he poured water upon the roots of a tree； about which were many other trees； and behold there came fire out of this tree and burnt up all that enpassed it； whereupon Jelyaad awoke； affrighted and trembling； and calling one of his servants； bade him fetch the Vizier Shimas in all haste。 So he betook himself to Shimas and said to him； 'The king calls for thee； for he hath awoke from his sleep in affright and hath sent me to bring thee to him in haste。'
When Shimas heard this； he arose forthright and going in to the king； found him seated on his bed。 So he prostrated himself before him； wishing him continuance of glory and prosperity； and said； 'May God not cause thee grieve； O king！ What hath troubled thee this night； and what is the cause of thy seeking me thus in haste？' The king bade him be seated and said to him； 'I have dreamt this night a dream that terrified me； and it was； that methought I poured water upon the roots of a tree and as I was thus engaged； behold； fire issued therefrom and burnt up all the trees that were about it； wherefore I was affrighted and fear took me。 Then I awoke and sent to bid thee to me； because of thy much knowledge and skill in the interpretation of dreams and of that which I know of the extent of thy wisdom and the greatness of thine understanding。'
The vizier bowed his head awhile and presently raising it； smiled； whereupon the king said to him； 'What deemest thou； O Shimas？ Tell me the truth of the matter and hide nothing from me。' 'O king；' answered Shimas； 'verily God the Most High granteth thee thy wish and solaceth thine eyes； for the matter of this dream presageth all good； to wit； that God will bless thee with a son； who shall inherit the kingdom from thee； after thy long life。 But there is somewhat else that I desire not to expound at this present； seeing that the time is not favourable for its exposition。' The king rejoiced in this with an exceeding joy and great was his contentment； his trouble ceased from him and he said； 'If the case be thus of the happy presage of my dream； do thou plete to me its interpretation； when the fitting time eth： for that which it behoveth not to expound to me now； it behoveth that thou expound to me； when its time eth； so my joy may be fulfilled； because I seek nought in this but the approof of God； blessed and exalted be He！'
When the vizier saw that the king was urgent to have the rest of the exposition； he put him off with a pretext； but Jelyaad assembled all the astrologers and interpreters of dreams of his realm and related to them his dream； saying； 'I desire you to tell me the true interpretation of this。' Whereupon one of them came forward and craved the king's leave to speak； which being granted； he said； 'Know； O king； that thy Vizier Shimas is nowise unable to the interpretation of this thy dream； but he shrank from troubling thy repose： wherefore he expounded not unto thee the whole thereof： but； if thou bid me speak； I will acquaint thee with that which he hid from thee。' 'Speak without fear； O interpreter；' replied Jelyaad； 'and be truthful in thy speech。' 'Know then； O king；' said the interpreter； 'that there will be born to thee a son who shall inherit the kingship from thee； after thy long life； but he shall not order himself towards the folk after thy fashion； but shall transgress thine ordinances and oppress thy subjects； and there shall befall him what befell the mouse with the cat。' （142） 'I seek refuge with God the Most High！' exclaimed the king。 'But what is the story of the cat and the mouse？' 'May God prolong the king's life！' replied the interpreter。 'It is related that
The Cat and the Mouse
A grimalkin； that is to say； a cat； went out one night to a certain garden； in quest of what she might devour； but found nothing and became weak for the excess of cold and rain that prevailed that night。 As she prowled about in search of prey； she espied a nest at the foot of a tree； and drawing near unto it； sniffed and purred about it till she scented a mouse within and went round about it； seeking to enter and take the mouse。 When the latter smelt the cat； it turned its back to her and scraped up the earth with its paws； to stop the door against her； whereupon she counterfeited a weak voice and said； 〃Why dost thou thus； O my brother？ I e to seek refuge with thee； hoping that thou wilt take pity on me and shelter me in thy nest this night； for I am weak； because of the greatness of my age and the loss of my strength； and can hardly move。 I have ventured into this garden tonight； and how many a time have I prayed for death； that I might be at rest from this misery！ Behold； here am I at thy door； prostrate for cold and wet； and I beseech thee； by Allah； take my hand of thy charity and bring me in with thee and give me shelter in the vestibule of thy nest； for I am a stranger and wretched and it is said； 'Whoso shelters a stranger and a wretched one in his dwelling； his shelter shall be Paradise on the Day of Reckoning。' And thou； O my brother； it behoves thee to earn a repense ＇from God＇ by succouring me and suffering me abide with thee this night till the morning； when I will go my way。〃 〃How shall I suffer thee enter my nest；〃 answered the mouse； 〃seeing that thou art my natural enemy and thy food is of my flesh？ Indeed I fear lest thou play me false； for that is of thy nature and there is no faith in thee； and the byword says； 'It befits not to entrust a whoremonger with a fair woman nor a needy man with money nor fire with firewood。' Neither doth it behove me to entrust myself to thee； and it is said； 'Enmity of kind grows stronger； as the enemy himself grows weaker。'〃
The cat made answer in a very faint voice； as she were in the most piteous case； saying； 〃What thou sayest of admonitory instances is the truth and I deny not my offences against thee； but I beseech thee to five that which is past of the enmity of kind between thee and me； for it is said； 'Whoso fiveth a creature like himself； his Creator will five him his sins。' It is true that I was thy sometime enemy； but today I am a suitor for thy friendship； and it is said； 'If thou wilt have thine enemy be thy friend； do with him good。' O my brother； I swear to thee by Allah and make a binding covenant with thee that I will never do thee hurt； more by token that I have no power unto this； wherefore do thou trust in God and do good and accept my oath and covenant。〃 〃How can I accept the covenant of one between whom and me there is a rooted enmity；〃 rejoined the mouse； 〃and whose wont it is to deal treacherously by me？ Were the feud between us aught but one of blood； this were easy to me； but it is an enmity of kind between souls； and it is said； 'He who trusts himself to his enemy is as one who puts his hand into a viper's mouth。'〃 Quoth the cat； full of wrath； 〃My breast is straitened and my soul faints within me： indeed I am in extremity and ere long I shall die at thy door and my blood will be on thy head； for that thou hadst it in thy power to save me： and this is my last word to thee。〃
With this the fear of God the Most High overcame the mouse and pity took hold upon his heart and he said in himself； 〃Whoso would have the succour of God the Most High against his enemy； let him entreat him with passion and k