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ould have the succour of God the Most High against his enemy； let him entreat him with passion and kindness。 I mit myself to God in this matter and will deliver this cat from this her strait and earn the reward ＇of God＇ for her。〃 So he went forth and dragged the cat into his nest； where she abode till she was rested and somewhat restored； when she began to bewail her weakness and loss of strength and lack of friends。 The mouse entreated her friendly and forted her and busied himself with her service； but she crept along till she got mand of the issue of the nest； lest the mouse should escape。 So； when the latter would have gone out； after his wont； he drew near the cat； whereupon she seized him and taking him in her claws； began to bite him and shake him and take him in her mouth and lift him up and throw him down and run after him and crunch him and torture him。
The mouse cried out for help； beseeching God of deliverance； and began to upbraid the cat； saying； 〃Where is the covenant thou madest with me and where are the oaths thou sworest to me？ Is this my reward from thee？ I brought thee into my nest and trusted myself to thee： but he speaks sooth who says； 'He who relies on his enemy's promise desireth not salvation for himself。' And again； 'Whoso trusts himself to his enemy merits his own destruction。' Yet do I put my trust in my Creator； for He will deliver me from thee。' The cat was about to pounce on him and devour him； when up came a huntsman； with hunting dogs trained to the chase。 One of the dogs passed by the mouth of the nest and hearing a great scuffing within； thought there was a fox there； tearing somewhat； so he thrust into the hole； to get at him； and ing upon the cat； seized on her。 When she found herself in the dog's clutches； she was forced to take thought to herself and loosed the mouse alive and whole of wound。 Then the dog broke her neck and dragging her forth of the hole； threw her down dead： and thus was exemplified the truth of the saying； 〃He who hath passion； passion shall be shown him at the last； and he who oppresseth shall presently be oppressed。〃
This； then； O king；' added the interpreter； 'is what befell the cat and the mouse and teaches that none should break faith with those who put trust in him； for whoso doth perfidy and treason； there shall befall him the like of that which befell the cat。 As a man meteth； so shall it be meted unto him； and he who betaketh himself unto good shall gain his reward ＇in the world to e＇。 But grieve thou not； neither let this trouble thee； O king； for that most like thy son； after his tyranny and oppression； will return to the goodliness of thy policy。 And I would that learned man； thy Vizier Shimas； had concealed from thee nought in that which he expounded unto thee； and this had been welladvised of him； for it is said； 〃Those of the folk who most abound in fear are the amplest of them in knowledge and the most emulous of good。〃'
The king received the interpreter's speech with submission and dismissing him and his fellow with rich presents； withdrew to his own apartments and fell to musing over the issue of his affair。 When the night came； he went in to one of his women； who was most in favour with him and dearest to him of them all； and lay with her： and before four months had passed over her； the child stirred in her belly； whereat she rejoiced with an exceeding joy and told the king。 Quoth he； 'My dream said sooth； by God the Helper！' And he lodged her in the goodliest of lodgings and bestowed on her store of rich gifts and entreated her with all honour。 Then he sent for his Vizier Shimas and told him what had betided； rejoicing and saying； 'My dream is e true and I have attained my hope。 It may be this child will be a son and inherit the kingship after me； what sayst thou of this； O Shimas？' But he was silent and made no reply。 Quoth the king； 'What ails thee that thou rejoicest not in my joy and returnest me no answer？ Doth the thing mislike thee； O Shimas？'
Thereupon the vizier prostrated himself before him and said； 'O king； may God prolong thy life！ What availeth it to sit under the shade of a tree； if there issue fire therefrom； and what is the delight of one who drinketh pure wine； if he be choked withal； and what doth it profit to quench one's thirst with sweet cool water； if one be drowned therein？ I am God's servant and thine； O king； but there are three things whereof it beats not the understanding to speak till they be acplished； to wit； the traveller； till he return from his journey： the man who is at war； till he have overe his enemy； and the pregnant woman； till she have cast her burden。 For know； O king； that he； who speaks of aught before it be acplished； is like the fakir and the pot of butter。' 'What is the story of the fakir；' asked the king； 'and what happened to him？' 'O king；' answered the vizier；
The Fakir and His Pot of Butter。
'A fakir abode once with one of the nobles of a certain town； who made him a daily allowance of three cakes of bread and a little butter and honey。 Now butter was dear in those parts and the fakir laid all that came to him together in a pot he had； till he filled it and hung it up over his head for safe keeping。 One night； as he sat on his bed； with his staff in his hand； he fell amusing upon the butter and the greatness of its price and said in himself； 〃Needs must I sell all this butter I have and buy an ewe with the price and take to partner therein a husbandman who has a ram。 The first year she will bear a male lamb and a female and the second the like； and these in their turn will bear others； nor will they give over bearing males and females； till they bee a great matter。 The males I will sell and buy with them bulls and cows； which will also engender and multiply and bee many。
Then will I take my share and sell thereof what I will and buy such a piece of land and plant a garden therein and build thereon a great palace。 Moreover； I will get me clothes and raiment and slaves and slavegirls and take me to wife the daughter of such a merchant and hold a wedding the like whereof was never seen。 I will slaughter cattle and make rich meats and sweetmeats and confections and provide flowers and perfumes and all manner sweet herbs and assemble all the musicians and mimes and mountebanks and playerfolk。 Then will I bid rich and poor and the learned and captains and grandees； and whoso asks for aught； I will cause it to be brought him。 Moreover； I will make ready all manner of meat and drink and send out a crier to cry aloud and say； 'Whoso seeketh aught； let him ＇e＇ and get it。' Then will I go in to my bride； after they have unveiled her before me； and enjoy her beauty and grace； and I will eat and drink and make merry and say to myself； 'Now hast thou attained thy desire；' and will rest from devotion and asceticism。
In due time my wife will bear me a boy； and I shall rejoice in him and make banquets in his honour and rear him delicately and teach him philosophy and mathematics and polite letters。 （143） So shall I make his name renowned among the folk and glory in him among the assemblies of the learned。 I will enjoin him to do good and he shall not gainsay me； and I will forbid him from le to the fear of God and the practice of righteousness。 Moreover； I will bestow on him rich and goodly gifts； and if I see him assiduous in obedience； I will redouble in my bounties towards him： but； if I see him incline unto disobedience； I will e down on him with his staff。' So saying； he raised his dand； to beat his son； but the staff struck the pot of butter； that hung over his head； and broke it； whereupon the potsherds fell upon him and the butter ran down upon his head and beard。 So his clothes and bed were spoiled and he became an admonition to whoso will profit by admonition。 Wherefore； O king；' added the vizier； 'it behoves not a man to speak of aught ere it e to pass。' 'Thou sayst sooth；' answered the king； 'fair fall thee for a vizier！ For thou speakest the truth and counsellest righteousness。 Verily； thy rank with me is such as thou couldst wish （144） and thou shalt never cease to have acceptance with me。'
The vizier prostrated himself before the king and wished him continuance of prosperity； saying； 'May God prolong thy days and exalt thy dignity！ Know that I conceal from thee nought； neither in private nor in public； thy pleasure is my pleasure； and thy wrath my wrath。 There is no joy for me but in thy joyance and I cannot sleep； if thou be angered against me； for that God the Most High hath vouchsafed me all good through thy bounties to me； wherefore I beseech Him to guard thee with His angels and make fair thy rewards whenas thou meetest Him。' The king rejoiced in this； and Shimas arose and went out from before him。
In due time the king's wife gave birth to a male child； and the messengers hastened to bear the glad tidings to the king； who rejoiced therein with an exceeding joy and offered up abundant thanks to God； saying； 'Praised be God who hath vouchsafed me a son； after I had despaired！ For He is pitiful and tenderly solicitous over His servants。' Then he wrote to all the people of his dominions； acquainting them with the good news and bidding them to his capital； and great were the rejoic