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his ridiculous letter。 But he shall have an answer like unto his letter and overpassing it； for I will give it to one of the boys of the school to answer。〃 Then send for me； and when I e； bid me read the letter and answer it。'
When the king heard the boy's speech； his breast expanded and he approved his counsel and his device pleased him。 So he conferred largesse upon him and instating him in his father's once； sent him away； rejoicing。 When the three days of delay were expired； that he had appointed unto the courier； the latter presented himself and going in to the king； demanded the answer； but he put him off to another day； whereupon he went to the end of the throneroom and spake unseemly； even as the boy had foresaid。 Then he betook himself to the bazaar and said； 'Ho； people of this city； I came with a message from the King of Farther India to your king； and still he putteth me off from an answer。 Now the term is past which my master limited unto me and your king hath no excuse； and ye are witnesses unto this。'
When this speech was reported to the king； he sent for the courier and said to him； 'O thou that seekest thine own destruction； art thou not the bearer of a letter from king to king； between whom are secrets； and how eth it that thou goest forth among the folk and publishest kings' secrets to the mon people？ Verily； thou meritest punishment from us； but this we will forbear； for the sake of returning an answer by thee to this fool of a king of thine： and it befitteth not that any return him an answer but the least of the boys of the school。' Then he sent for the vizier's son； who carne and prostrating himself to God； offered up prayers for the king's abiding glory and long life； whereupon Wird Khan threw him the letter； saying； 'Read that letter and write me a reply hereto in haste。'
The boy took the letter and reading it； smiled； then he laughed aloud and said to the king； 'Didst thou send for me to answer this letter？' 'Yes；' answered Wird Khan； and the boy said； 'O king； methought thou hadst sent for me on some grave matter； indeed a lesser than I had availed to the answering of this letter； but it is thine to mand； O puissant king。' Quoth the king； 'Write the answer forthright； on account of the courier； for that he is appointed a term and we have delayed him another day。' 'I hear and obey；' answered the boy and pulling out paper and inkhorn； wrote the following answer。
'In the name of God the Merciful； the passionate！ Peace be upon him who hath gotten pardon and deliverance and the mercy of the passionate One！ To proceed。 O thou that pretendeth thyself a mighty king ＇and art but a king＇ in word and not in deed； we give thee to know that thy letter hath reached us and we have read it and have taken note of that which is therein of absurdities and rare extravagances； whereby we are certified of thine ignorance and illwill unto us。 Verily； thou hast put out thy hand to that whereunto thou availest not； and but that we have passion on God's creatures and the people； we had not held back ＇our hand＇ from thee。 As for thy messenger； he went forth to the bazaar and published the news of thy letter to great and small； whereby he merited punishment from us； but we spared him and remitted his offence； not of respect for thee； but of pity for him； seeing that he is excusable with thee。
As for that whereof thou makest mention in thy letter of the slaughter of my viziers and wise men and grandees； this is the truth and ＇this I did＇ for a reason that availed with me； and I slew not one man of learning but there are with me a thousand of his kind； wiser than he and more of sense and learning； nor is there with me a child but is filled with knowledge and wisdom； and I have； in the stead of each of the slain； of those who surpass in his kind； what is beyond count。 Moreover； each of my troops con cope with a battalion of thine； whilst； as for treasure； I have a manufactory that makes every day a thousand pounds of silver； besides gold； and precious stones are with me as pebbles； and as for the people of my kingdom； I cannot set forth to thee their wealth and beauty and goodliness。 How darest thou； therefore； presume upon us and say to us； 〃Build me a castle amiddleward the sea？〃 Verily； this is a marvellous thing； and doubtless it arises from the slenderness of thy wit； for； hadst thou aught of sense； thou hadst enquired of the beatings of the waves and the movements of the winds。 But fend thou off therefrom the waves and the surges of the sea and still the winds； and we will build thee the castle。
As for thy pretension that thou e； God forfend that the like of thee should lord it over us and conquer our realm！ Nay； God the Most High hath given me the mastery over thee； for that thou hast transgressed against me and provoked me without due cause。 Know； therefore； that thou hast merited chastisement from God and from me； but I fear God in respect of thee and thy subjects （186） and will not take horse against thee but after warning。 Wherefore； if thou fear God； hasten to send me this year's tribute； else will I not leave to ride forth against thee with a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand fightingmen； all giants on elephants； and I will range them round about my vizier and bid him beleaguer thee three years； in place of the three days' delay thou appointedst to thy messenger； and I will make myself master of thy kingdom； except that I will slay none but thyself alone and make prisoners therefrom none but thy harem。'
Then the boy drew his own portrait in the margin of the letter and wrote thereunder the words： 'This answer was written by the least of the boys of the school；' after which he sealed it and handed it to the king。 The latter gave it to the courier； who took it and kissing the king's hands； went forth from him； rendering thanks to God and the king for the latter's clemency to him and marvelling at the boy's intelligence。 He arrived at the court of the king； his master； three days after the expiration of the term appointed to him； and found that he had called a meeting of his council； by reason of the failure of the courier to return at the appointed time。 So he went in to the king and prostrating himself before him； gave him the letter。 The king took it and questioned him of the cause of his tarrying and how it was with King Wird Khan。 So he recounted to him all that he had seen with his eyes and heard with his ears； whereat the king's wit was confounded and he said； 'Out on thee！ What tale is this thou tellest me of the like of this king？' 'O mighty king；' answered the courier； 'I am here before thee； （187） but open the letter and read it； and the truth of my speech will appear to thee。'
So the king opened the letter and read it and seeing the portrait of the boy who had written it； made sure of the loss of his kingdom and was perplexed concerning the issue of his affair。 Then； turning to his viziers and grandees； he acquainted them with the case and read them the letter； whereat they were mightily affrighted and sought to calm the king's terror with words that were only from the tongue； whilst their hearts were torn with alarm and anxiety； but Bediya； the chief vizier； said； 'Know； O king； that there is no avail in that which my brother viziers have said； and it is my counsel that thou write this king a letter and excuse thyself to him therein； saying； 〃I love thee and loved thy father before thee and sent thee this letter by the courier only to prove thee and try thy constancy and see what was in thee of stoutness and thy proficiency in matters practical and theoretical and skill in enigmas and that wherewith thou art endowed of all perfections。 Wherefore we pray God the Most High to bless thee in thy kingdom and strengthen the defences of thy ＇capital＇ city and add to thy dominion； since thou art mindful of thyself and acplishest the needs of thy subjects。〃 And send it to him by another courier。' 'By the Great God；' exclaimed the king； 'it is a wonder of wonders that this man should be a mighty king and prepared for war； after his slaughter of all the wise men of his kingdom and his counsellors and the captains of his host and that his realm should prosper after this and there should issue therefrom this vast strength！ But the most wonderful of all is that the little ones of its schools should return the like of this answer for its king。 Verily； of my illomened presumption； I have kindled this fire upon myself； and I know not how I shall quench it； save ＇by acting on＇ the advice of this my vizier。'
Accordingly he made ready a rich present； with slaves and attendants galore； and wrote the following letter ＇in answer to that of Wird Khan＇。 'In the name of God； the passionate； the Merciful！ To proceed。 O glorious King Wird Khan； son of my dear brother Jelyaad； may God have mercy on thee and continue thee ＇on life！＇ Thine answer to our letter hath reached us and we have read it and apprehended its meaning and see therein that which rejoiceth us； and this is the utmost of that which we sought of God for thee； wherefore we beseech Him to exalt thy dignity and stablish the pillars of thy state and give thee the victory over thy foes and those who purpose thee ill。 Know； O king； that thy father was my br