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ncluded that it contained something to eat and sought every day of their father that he should show them what was in it； and he still put them off and forbade them from asking this。
On this wise they abode awhile； till they agreed with their mother that they would neither eat nor drink with their father； till he granted them their prayer and opened the basket to them。 One night； the serpentcharmer came home with great plenty of meat and drink and called them to eat with him； but they refused and showed him anger； whereupon he began to coax them with fair words； saying； 〃Tell me what you would have； that I may bring it you； be it meat or drink or clothes。〃 〃O our father；〃 answered they； 〃we want nothing of thee but that thou open this basket and show us what is therein： else we will kill ourselves。〃 〃O my children；〃 rejoined he； 〃there is nothing good for you therein and indeed the opening of it will be hurtful to you。〃 They only redoubled in despite for all he could say； which when he saw； he began to berate them and threaten them with beating； except they left this； but they redoubled in anger and persistence in asking； till at last he waxed wroth and took a stick to beat them； and they fled from him within the house。
Now the basket was present and he had not hidden it anywhere； so his wife left him occupied with the children and opened the basket in haste； that she might see what was therein； whereupon the serpents came out and bit her and killed her。 Then they went round about the house and killed all； great and small； who were therein； except the serpentcharmer； who left the place and went away。 If then； O august king；' continued the vizier； 'thou consider this； thou wilt know that it is not for a man to desire aught but that which God the Most High refuseth not to him； nay； he should be content with what He willeth。 And thou； O king； for the abundance of thy wisdom and the excellence of thine understanding； God hath solaced thine eyes with the advent of this thy son； after despair； and hath forted thine heart； wherefore we pray God to make him of the just kings； acceptable to Himself and to his subjects。'
Then rose the seventh vizier and said； 'O king； I know and endorse all that my brethren； these wise and learned viziers； have said of thy justice and the goodness of thy policy and how thou art distinguished in this from all other kings； wherefore they gave thee the preference over them。 Indeed； this is of that which is incumbent on us； O king； and I say； 〃Praised be God for that He hath guerdoned thee with His bounty and vouchsafed thee； of His mercy； the welfare of the realm and succoured us and thee； on condition that we abound in gratitude to Him； and all this no otherwise than by thine existence！〃 What while thou remainest to us； we fear not oppression neither dread unright； nor can any take advantage of our weakness； and indeed it is said； 〃The greatest good of a a people is a just king and their greatest evil an unjust one；〃 and again； 〃Better dwell with devouring lions than with an unjust Sultan。〃 So praised be God the Most High with eternal praise for that He hath blessed us with thy life and vouchsafed thee this blessed child； whenas thou wast stricken in years and hadst despaired of issue！ For the goodliest of the gifts of the world is a virtuous child； and it is said； 〃He who hath no child； ＇his life＇ is without result and he hath no remembrance。〃
As for thee； because of the righteousness of thy justice and thy pious confidence in God the Most High； thou hast been vouchsafed this happy son； yea； this blessed child eth as a gift from the Most High God to us and to thee； for the excellence of thy governance and the goodliness of thy patience； and in this thou hast fared even as fared the spider with the wind。' 'And what is the story of the spider and the wind？' asked the king。 'Know； O king；' answered the vizier； 'that
The Spider and the Wind。
A spider once took up her abode on a high retired gate and span her web there and dwelt therein in peace； giving thanks to God the Most High； who had made this dwellingplace easy to her and had set her in safety from noxious reptiles。 On this wise she abode awhile； still giving thanks to God for her ease and sustenance； till the Creator bethought Him to try her and make essay of her gratitude and patience。 So he sent upon her a strong northeast wind； which carried her away； web and all； and cast her into the sea。 The waves bore her ashore and she thanked God for safety and began to upbraid the wind； saying； 〃O wind； why hast thou dealt thus with me and what good hast thou gotten by carrying me hither from my abidingplace； where indeed I was in safety； secure in my house on the top of the gate？' 'Leave thy chiding；〃 replied the wind； 〃for I will carry thee back and restore thee to thy place； as thou wast aforetime。〃
So the spider waited patiently； till the northeast wind left blowing and there arose a southwest wind； which caught her up and flew with her towards her dwelling place； and when she came to her abode； she knew it and clung to it。 And we；' continued the vizier； 'beseech God （who hath rewarded the king for his singleness of heart and patience and hath taken pity on his subjects and blessed them with His favour and hath vouchsafed the king this son in his old age； after he had despaired ＇of issue＇ and removed him not from the world； till He had granted him the solace of his eyes and bestowed on him what he hath bestowed of kingship and empire）； to vouchsafe unto thy son that which He hath vouchsafed unto thee of kingship and dominion and glory！ Amen。'
Then said the king； 'Praised be God over all praise and thanks be to Him over all thanks！ There is no god but He； the Creator of all things； by the light of whose signs we know the glory of His greatness and who giveth kingship and dominion over his own country to whom He willeth of His servants！ He chooseth of them whom He will to make him His vicegerent and steward over His creatures and mandeth him to just and equal dealing with them and the maintenance of laws and observances and the practice of right and constancy in ordering their affairs to that which is most acceptable to Him and to them。 He who doth thus and obeyeth the mandment of his Lord； attaih his desire； and God preserveth him from the perils of this world and maketh fair his repense in the world to e； for indeed He neglecteth not the reward of the just： and whoso doth otherwise than as God bidders him sinh grievously and disobeyeth his Lord； preferring his temporal above his spiritual weal。 He hath no trace in this world and no part in the next： for God spareth not the unjust and the corrupt； nor doth He forsake any of His servants。
These our viziers have set forth how； by reason of our just dealing with our subjects and our wise governance of their affairs； God hath vouchsafed us and them His grace； for which it behoveth us to thank Him； because of the abundance of His mercies。 Moreover； each of them hath spoken that wherewith God inspired him concerning this matter； and they have vied with each other in rendering thanks to God the Most High and praising Him for His favours and bounties。 I also render thanks to God； for that I am but a slave manded； my heart is in His hand and my tongue obedient to Him； accepting that which He adjudgeth to me and to them； e what may。
Each one of them hath said what came to his thought on the subject of this boy and hath set forth that which was of the renewal of ＇God's＇ favour to us； after I had reached the age when despair is uppermost and hope faileth。 So praised be God who hath saved us from disappointment and from the alternation of rulers； like to the alternation of night and day！ For verily； this was a great boon both to us and to them； wherefore we praise God the Most High who hath given a ready answer to our prayer and hath blessed us with this boy and set him in high place； as the inheritor of the kingship。 And we entreat Him； of His bounty and clemency； to make him happy in his actions； apt to good works； so he may bee a king and a sultan governing his people from the perils of error and frowardness of His bounty and grace and goodness！'
When the king had made an end of his speech； the sages and learned men rose and prostrated themselves before God and thanked the king； after which they kissed his hands and departed； each to his own house； whilst the king withdrew into his palace； where he looked upon the newborn child and offered up prayers for him and named him Wird Khan。 The boy grew up till he attained the age of twelve； （153） when the king； being minded to have him taught the various branches of knowledge； built him a palace amiddleward the city； wherein were three hundred and threescore rooms； and lodged him therein。 Then he assigned him three learned men and bade them relax not from teaching him day and night and look that there was no kind of knowledge but they instructed him therein； so he might bee versed in all sciences。 Moreover； he manded them to sit with him one day in each of the rooms in turn and write on the door thereof that which they had aught him therein of various kinds of knowledge and report to himself every seven days what he had learnt。 So they went in to th