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ee the victory over thy foes and those who purpose thee ill。 Know； O king； that thy father was my brother and that there were between us in his lifetime pacts and covenants of friendship； and never had he of me nor I of him other than good； and when he was translated ＇to the mercy of God＇ and thou sattest upon the throne of his kingship； there betided us the utmost joy and contentment； but； when the news reached us of that which thou didst with thy viziers and the notables of thy state； we feared lest the report of thee should e to the ears of some king other than ourselves and he should presume against thee； for that we deemed thee neglectful of thine affairs and of the maintenance of thy defences and careless of the interests of thy kingdom； so we wrote unto thee what should arouse thee ＇from thy torpor＇。 But； when we saw that thou returnest us the like of this answer； our heart was set at ease for thee； may God give thee enjoyment of thy kingdom and stablish thee in thy dignity！ And so peace be on thee。'
Then he despatched the letter and the present to Wird Khan with an escort of a hundred horse； who fared on till they came to his court and saluting him； presented him with the letter and the gifts。 The king read the letter and accepted the presents； lodging the captain of the escort in a befitting place and entreating him with honour。 So the news of this was bruited abroad among the people and the king rejoiced therein with an exceeding joy。 Then he sent for the boy； the son of Shimas； and the captain of the hundred horse； and entreating the young vizier with honour； gave him the letter to read； whilst he himself upbraided the captain concerning the king's conduct； and the latter kissed his hand and made his excuses to him； offering up prayers for the continuance of his life and the eternity of his fortune。 The king thanked him for his good wishes and bestowed upon him honours and largesse galore。 Moreover； he gave his men what befitted them and made ready presents to send by them and bade the young vizier write an answer to their king's letter。
So the boy wrote an answer； wherein； after an elegant exordium； he touched briefly on the question of reconciliation and praised the good breeding of the envoy and of his men； and showed it to the king； who said to him； 'Read it； O dear boy； that we may know what is written therein。' So the boy read the letter in the presence of the hundred horse； and the king and all present marvelled at the excellence of its style and sense。 Then the king sealed the letter and delivering it to the captain of the hundred horse； dismissed him with an escort of his own troops； to bring him to the frontier of his country。 So the captain returned； confounded at that which he had seen of the boy's knowledge and sagacity and thanking God for the speedy acplishment of his errand and the acceptance of ＇the proffered＇ peace； to the King of Farther India； to whom he delivered the presents and the letter； telling him what he had seen and heard； whereat the king was mightily rejoiced and returned thanks to God the Most High and honoured the envoy； lauding his care and zeal and advancing him in rank： and he was thenceforth in peace and tranquillity and all contentment。
As for King Wird Khan； he returned to the way of righteousness； abandoning his evil courses and turning to God with sincere repentance； and he altogether forswore women and devoted himself to the ordering of the affairs of his realm and the governance of his people in the fear of God。 Moreover； he made the son of Shimas vizier in his father's room and the chief of his counsellors and keeper of his secrets and manded to decorate his capital and the other cities of his kingdom seven days。 At this the subjects rejoiced； glad in the prospect of justice and equity； and fear and alarm ceased from them and they were instant in prayer for the king and for the vizier who had done away this trouble from him and them。
Then said the king to the vizier； 'What is thy counsel for the proper ordering of the state and the prospering of the people and the furnishing of the realm anew with captains and counsellors as before？' 'O king of high estate；' answered the boy； 'in my judgment； it behoves； before all； that thou began by tearing out from thy heart the root of frowardness and leave thy debauchery and tyranny and devotion to women； for； if thou return to the root of transgression； the second backsliding will be worse than the first。' 'And what；' asked the king； 'is the root of frowardness that it behoves me to tear out from my heart？' 'O mighty king；' answered the vizier； little of years but great of wit； 'the root of frowardness is the ensuing the desire of women and inclining to them and following their counsel and policy； for the love of them troubles the soundest wit and corrupts the most upright nature； and manifest proofs bear witness to my saying； wherein； if thou meditate them and consider their actions and the consequences thereof with eyes intent； thou wilt find a loyal counsellor against thine own soul and wilt stand in no need of my advice。
Look then； thou occupy not thy heart with the thought of women and do away the trace of them from thy mind； for that God the Most High hath forbidden the excessive use of them by the mouth of His prophet Moses； so that quoth a certain wise king to his son； 〃O my son； when thou succeedest to the throne after me； spare to frequent women overmuch； lest thy heart be led astray and thy judgment corrupted； for that their much frequentation leadeth to love of them； and love of them to corruption of judgment。〃 And the proof of this is what befell our lord Solomon； son of David （peace be upon them both！） whom God endowed with knowledge and wisdom and supreme dominion above all men； nor vouchsafed He to any of the kings of old time the like of that which He gave him； and women were the cause of his father's offending。
The examples of this are many； O king； and I do but make mention of Solomon to thee for that thou knowest that to none was given the like of the dominion wherewith he was invested； so that all the kings of the earth obeyed him。 Know then； O king； that the love of women is the root of all evil and none of them hath any judgment： wherefore it behoveth a man to confine his use of them within the limits of necessity and not incline to them altogether； for that will cause him fall into corruption and perdition。 If thou hearken to my rede； all thine affairs will prosper； but； if thou neglect it； thou wilt repent； whenas repentance will not avail thee。'
'Indeed；' answered the king； 'I have left my sometime inclination to women and have altogether renounced my infatuation for them； but how shall I do to punish them for that which they have done？ For the slaying of thy father Shimas was of their malice and not of my own will； and I know not what ailed my reason that I fell in with their proposal to kill him。'
Then he cried out and groaned and lamented； saying； 'Alas for the loss of my vizier and his just judgment and wise ordinance and for the loss of his like of the viziers and notables of the state and of the goodliness of their apt and sagacious counsels！' 'O king；' said the young vizier； 'know that the fault is not with women alone； for that they are like unto a pleasing modity； whereto the desires of the beholders incline。 To whosoever desireth and buyeth； they sell it； but whoso buyeth not； none forceth him thereto； so that the fault is his who buyeth； especially if he know the harmfulness of the modity。 Now； I warn thee； as did my father before me； but thou hearkenedst not to his counsel。' 'O vizier；' answered the king； 'indeed thou hast fixed this fault upon me； even as thou hast said； and I have no excuse except the Divine ordinances。' 'O king；' rejoined the vizier； 'know that God hath created us and endowed us with ableness （188） and appointed to us will and choice； so； if we will； we do； and if we will； we do not。 God mandeth us not to do harm； lest sin attach to us； wherefore it behoveth us to consider that which it is right to do； for that the Most High mandeth us nought but good in all cases and forbiddeth us only from evil； but what we do； we do of our free will； be it right or wrong。'
Quoth the king； 'Thou sayst truly； and indeed my fault arose from my surrendering myself to my lusts； albeit many a time my reason warned me from this and thy father Shimas often warned me likewise； but my lusts carried it over my reason。 Hast thou then with thee aught that may ＇in the future＇ withhold me from mitting this error and whereby my reason may be victorious over the lusts of my soul？' 'Yes；' answered the vizier。 'I can tell thee what will restrain thee from mitting this error； and it is that thou put off the garment of ignorance and don that of understanding； disobeying thy passions and obeying thy Lord and reverting to the policy of the just king thy father； fulfilling thy duties to God the Most High and to thy people； applying thyself to the defence of thy faith and the promotion of thy subjects' welfare； governing thyself aright and forbearing the slaughter of thy people。
Look to the issues of things and sever thyself from tyranny and oppression and arrogance and lewdness； practising justic