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befell the heathcock with the tortoises。' 'What was that？' asked they； and he answered； 'It is said that
The Heathcock and the Tortoises。
A number of tortoises dwelt once in a certain island； abounding in trees and fruits and streams； and it chanced； one day； that a heathcock passing over the island； was overe with heat and weariness and stayed his flight there。 Presently； looking about for a cool place； he espied the resort of the tortoises and lighted down therein。 Now they were then abroad in quest of food and when they returned from their feedingplaces to their dwelling； they found the heathcock there。 His beauty pleased them and God made him fair in their eyes； so that they extolled their Creator and loved the heathcock with an exceeding love and rejoiced in him； saying one to another； 〃Assuredly this is of the goodliest of the birds。〃 And they began to caress him and entreat him with kindness。 When he saw that they looked on him with eyes of affection； he inclined to them and made friends with them and took up his abode with them； Eying away in the morning whither he would and returning at eventide to pass the night with them。
After awhile； the tortoises； seeing that his ＇daylong＇ absence from them desolated them and finding that they saw him not but by night； （for at break of day he still took flight in haste and they knew not what came of him； for all their love to him；） said to each other； 〃Indeed； we love this heathcock and he is bee our friend and we cannot brook parting from him； so how shall we do to make him abide with us always？ For he flies away at daybreak and is absent from us all day and we see him not save by night。〃 Quoth one of them； 〃Be easy； O my sisters。 I will bring him not to leave us for the twinkling of an eye。〃 And the rest answered； saying； 〃An thou do this； we will all be thy slaves。〃
So； when the heathcock came back from his feedingplace and sat down amongst them； the wily tortoise drew near unto him and called down blessings on him； giving him joy of his safe return and saying； 〃O my lord； know that God hath vouchsafed thee our love and hath in like manner set in thy heart the love of us； so that thou art bee to us a familiar friend and a rade in this desert place。 Now the goodliest of times for those who love each other is when they are in pany and the sorest of afflictions for them is absence and separation。 But thou leavest us at peep of day and returnest not to us till sundown； wherefore there betideth us sore desolation。 Indeed this is exceeding grievous unto us and we abide in sore longing by reason thereof。〃
〃Indeed；〃 answered the bird； 〃I love you also and yearn for you yet more than you for me； nor is it easy for me to leave you； but I have no help for this； seeing that I am a bird with wings and may not abide with you always； because that is not of my nature。 For a bird； being a winged creature； may not remain still； except it be for the sake of sleep at night； but； as soon as it is day； he flies away and seeks his food in what place soever pleases him。〃 〃True；〃 answered the tortoise。 〃Nevertheless he who hath wings hath no repose at most seasons； for that the good he getteth is not a fourth part of the trouble that betideth him； and the best of all the things for which one striveth is ease of life and contentment。 Now God hath appointed love and fellowship between us and thee and we fear for thee； lest some of thine enemies catch thee and thou perish and we be denied the sight of thy face。〃 〃Thou sayst sooth；〃 rejoined the heathcock； 〃but how dost thou counsel me to do？〃 Quoth the tortoise； 〃My advice is that thou pluck out thy wing feathers； wherewith thou speedest thy flight； and abide with us in peace； eating of our meat and drinking of our drink in this pasturage； that aboundeth in trees laden with ripe fruits； and thou and we； we will sojourn in this fruitful place and enjoy each other's pany。〃
The heathcock inclined to her speech； seeking ease for himself； and plucked out his wingfeathers； one by one； in accordance with the tortoise's counsel； then he took up his abode with them and contented himself with the little ease and passing pleasure he enjoyed。 Presently up came a。 weasel and looking at the heathcock； saw that his wings were plucked so that he could not fly； whereat he was mightily rejoiced and said in himself； 〃Verily yonder heathcock is fat and scant of feather。〃 So he went up to him and seized him； whereupon the heathcock called out to the tortoises for help； but； when they saw the weasel seize him； they drew apart from him and huddled together； choked with weeping for him； for they saw the beast torture him。 Quoth the heathcock； 〃Is there aught but weeping with you？〃 And they answered； saying； 〃O our brother； we have neither strength nor power nor resource against a weasel。〃 At this the heathcock was grieved and gave up hope of life； and he said to them； 〃The fault is not yours； but mine own； in that I hearkened to you and plucked out my wingfeathers； wherewith I used to fly。 Indeed； I deserve death for having hearkened to you； and I blame you not in aught。〃
On like wise；' continued the king； 'I do not blame you； O women； but I blame and reproach myself for that I remembered not that ye were the cause of the transgression of our father Adam； by reason whereof he was cast out from Paradise； but fot that ye are the root of all evil and hearkened to you； of my ignorance and folly and lack of sense and judgment； and slew my viziers and the governors of my state； who were my loyal counsellors in all things and my glory and my strength against whatsoever troubled me。 Now find I not one to replace them and see none who shall stand me in their stead； and except God succour me with one of sound judgment； who shall guide me to that wherein is my deliverance； I am fallen into sheer perdition。' Then he arose and withdrew into his bedchamber； bemoaning his viziers and governors and saying； 'Would God those lions were with me； though but for an hour； so I might excuse myself unto them and look on them and make my moan to them of my case and that which hath betided me after them！' And he abode all that day sunken in the sea of troublous thought； eating not neither drinking。
When the night came； he arose and changing his raiment； donned old clothes and disguised himself and went forth at a venture to walk about the city； so haply he might hear some fortable word。 As he wandered about the streets； he chanced upon two boys of equal age； each about twelve years old； who sat talking under a wall： so he drew near them whereas he might hear and apprehend what they said； unseen of them； and heard one say to the other； 'O my brother； hear what my father told me yesternight of the calamity that hath betided him in the withering of his crops； before their time； by reason of the lack of rain and the great affliction that is fallen on this city。' Quoth the other； 'Knowst thou not the cause of this affliction？' 'Not I；' answered the first。 'I prithee； tell it me； if thou know it。' 'Yes；' rejoined the second； 'I know it and will tell it thee。 Know that I have heard from one of my father's friends that our king put his viziers and ministers to death； without offence done of them； by reason of his love for women and inclination to them； for that his viziers forbade him from this； but he would not be forbidden and manded to slay them； in obedience to his women。 Thus he killed Shimas my father； who was his vizier and the vizier of his father before him and the chief of his council； but thou shalt see how God will do with him by reason of his sins against them and how He shall avenge them of him。' 'How so？' asked the first boy。
'Know；' replied his fellow； 'that the King of Farther India maketh light of our king and hath sent him a letter； rating him and saying to him； 〃Build me a castle amiddleward the sea； or I will send unto thee Bediya my vizier； with twelve squadrons of horse； each twelve thousand strong； to seize upon thy kingdom and slay thy men and take thee and thy women prisoners。〃 And he hath given him three days' time to answer。 Now thou must know； O my brother； that this King of Farther India is a masterful tyrant； a man of might and exceeding prowess； and in his realm are much people； wherefore； except our king make shift to fend him off from himself； he will fall into perdition； whilst the King of Hind will seize on our possessions and slay our men and make prize of our women。〃 When the king heard this talk； his agitation redoubled and he inclined to the boys； saying； 'Surely； this boy is a wizard； in that he is acquainted with this thing； for the letter is with me and the secret also and none hath knowledge of this matter but myself。 How then knoweth this boy of it？ I will resort unto him and talk with him and I pray God that our deliverance may be at his hand。'
Then he approached the boy softly and said to him； 'O dear boy； what is this thou sayest of our king； that he did ill to the utterest in slaying his viziers and the chiefs of his state？ Indeed； he sinned against himself and his people and thou art right in that which thou sayest。 But tell me； O my son； whence knowest thou that the King of Farther India hath written him a letter； berating him and bespeaking