and tomorrow we will go to him again。〃
So； on the morrow； they again betook themselves to the wolf and said to him； 〃O Abou Sirhan； we set thee in authority over us； that thou mightest allot unto each of us his day's meat and do the weak justice against the strong of us and that； when this （181） is finished； thou shouldst do thine endeavour to get us other and so we be still under thy safeguard and protection。 Now hunger is sore upon us； for that we have not eaten these two days； so do thou give us our day's meat and thou shalt be free to dispose of the rest as thou wilt。〃 But the wolf returned them no answer and redoubled in his stiffneckedness。 So they strove to turn him from his purpose； but he would not be turned。 Then said one of the foxes to the rest； 〃Nothing will serve us but that we go to the lion and cast ourselves on his protection and assign the camel unto him。 If he vouchsafe us aught thereof it will be of his bounty； and if not； he is worthier of it than this filthy fellow。〃
So they betook themselves to the lion and acquainted him with that which had betided them with the wolf； saying； 〃We are thy servants and e to thee； imploring thy protection； so thou mayst deliver us from this wolf； and we will be thy slaves。〃 When the lion heard their story； he was jealous for God the Most High and went with them in quest of the wolf； who； seeing him making for him； addressed himself to flight； but the lion ran after him and seizing him； rent him in pieces and restored their prey to the foxes。 This shows；' added Shimas； 'that it behoveth no king to neglect the affairs of his subjects； wherefore do thou hearken to my counsel and give credit to that which I say to thee； for thou knowest that thy father； before his decease； charged thee give ear unto loyal counsel。 This is the last of my speech with thee and peace be on thee。' Quoth the king； 'I will hearken to thee and tomorrow； God willing； I will go forth to them。'
So Shimas went forth from him and returning to the Folk； told them that the king had accepted his counsel and promised to e out unto them on the morrow。 But； when the favourite heard this saying reported of Shimas and knew that needs must the king go forth to his subjects； she betook herself to him and said to him； 'How great is my wonderment at thy submissiveness and obedience to thy slaves！ Knowst thou not that these viziers are thy servants？ Why then dost thou exalt them to such a pitch of importance that they conceit them it was they gave thee this kingship and advanced thee to this height and that it is they who confer favours on thee； albeit they have no power to do thee the least hurt？ Indeed； it is they who owe thee submission； not thou who owest it unto them； and it is their duty to carry out thine orders； so how eth it that thou art so mightily affrighted at them？ It is said； 〃Except thy heart be like iron； thou art not fit to be a king。〃 But thy mildness hath deluded these men； so that they presume upon thee and cast off their allegiance to thee； albeit it behoveth that they be constrained unto obedience and enforced to submissiveness unto thee。 If therefore； thou hasten to accept their words and leave them in their present case and fulfil to them the least thing against thy will； they will importune thee and presume upon thee； and this will bee their wont。 But； if thou hearken to me； thou wilt not advance any one of them to power neither wilt thou accept his word nor encourage him to presume upon thee； else wilt thou fare with them as did the shepherd with the robber。' 'How was that？' asked the king； and she answered； 'They say that
The Shepherd and the Thief。
There was once a shepherd； who fed a flock of sheep in the desert and kept strait watch over them。 One night； there came to him a thief thinking to steal some of his flock and finding him assiduous in guarding them； sleeping
not by night neither relaxing in his vigilance by day； prowled about him all night； but could get nothing of him。 So； when he was weary of striving； he betook himself to ＇another part of＇ the desert and trapping a lion； skinned him and stuffed his hide with straw； after which he carried it to a high place； where the shepherd might see it and be assured thereof； and set it up there。 Then he went up to the shepherd and said to him； 〃Yonder lion hath sent me to demand his supper of these sheep。〃 〃Where is the lion？〃 asked the shepherd； and the thief answered； 〃Lift thine eyes： there he stands。〃
The shepherd raised his eyes and seeing the stuffed hide； deemed it a very lion and was mightily affrighted； so he said to the thief； 〃O my brother； take what thou wilt。 I will not anywise gainsay thee。〃 So the thief took what he would of the sheep and redoubled in avidity by reason of the excess of the shepherd's affright。 Accordingly； every little while； he would go to him and frighten him； saying； 〃The lion hath need of this and that； and his intent is to do thus and thus；〃 and take what he would of the sheep； and he stinted not to do thus with him； till he had wasted the most part of his flock。 This； O king；' added the favourite； 'I tell thee but that thou suffer not the grandees of thy realm to be deluded by thy mildness and easiness of temper and presume on thee； and in sound judgment their death were better than that they deal thus with thee。' Quoth the king； 'I accept this thine admonition and will not go hearken to their counsel neither go out unto them。。
On the morrow the viziers and officers of state and heads of the people assembled and taking each his arms； repaired to the palace of the king； so they might break in upon him and slay him and make another king in his stead。 When they came to the door； they required the doorkeeper to open to them； but he refused； whereupon they sent to fetch fire； wherewith to burn down the doors and enter。 The doorkeeper； hearing what was toward amongst them； went in to the king in haste and told him that the folk were gathered together at the gate。 'And；' quoth he； 'they required me to open to them； but I refused and they have sent to fetch fire to burn down the doors withal； so they may e in to thee and slay thee。 What dost thou bid me do？' Quoth the king in himself； 'Verily； I am fallen into sheer perdition。'
Then he sent for the favourite and said to her； 'Indeed； Shimas never told me aught but I found it true； and now the folk are e； great and small； purposing to slay me and thee； and for that the doorkeeper would not open to them； they have sent to fetch fire； to burn the doors withal： so will the house be burnt and we therein。 What dost thou counsel me to do？' 'Let not thine affair affright thee；' answered she； 'no harm shall betide thee。 This is a time in which crackbrains rise against their kings。' 'But what；' asked he； 'dost thou counsel me and how shall I do in this matter？' Quoth she； 'My advice is that thou bind thy head with a fillet and feign thyself sick： then send for the vizier Shimas； who will e and see the case wherein thou art； and do thou say to him； 〃Verily I purposed to go forth to the folk this day； but this sickness hindered me。 So go thou out to them and acquaint them with my case and tell them that tomorrow I will without fail e forth to them and do their occasions and look into their affairs； so they may be reassured and their anger may subside。〃 Then do thou summon ten of thy father's stoutest slaves； men of strength and prowess； to whom thou canst entrust thyself； giving ear to thy word and obedient to thy mandment； keeping thy secret and devoted to thy love； and bid them on the morrow stand at thy head nor suffer any of the folk to enter； save one by one； and all who enter do thou bid them put to death。 If they agree with thee upon this； do thou tomorrow set up thy throne in the audiencechamber and open thy doors。
When the folk see that thou hast opened thy doors； their minds will be set at ease and they will e to thee with a whole heart； ＇thinking no evil＇； and seek admission to thee。 Then do thou bid admit them； one by one； even as I said to thee； and do thy will with them； but it behoveth thee begin by putting Shimas； their chief and leader； to death； for he is the Grand Vizier and head of the matter。 So slay him first and after put all the rest to death； one after another； and spare none whom thou knowest to have broken his covenant with thee； and on like wise slay all whose violence thou fearest。 lf thou deal thus with them； there will be left them no power to make head against thee； so shalt thou be altogether at rest from them and shalt enjoy thy kingship in peace and do what thou wilt； and know that there is no device that will advantage thee more than this。' 'Verily；' said the king； 'this thy counsel is just and that which thou biddest me welladvised； and I will assuredly do as thou sayest。'
So he called for a fillet and bound his head therewith and feigned sickness。 Then he sent for Shimas and said to him； 'O Shimas； thou knowest that I love thee and hearken to thy counsel and thou art to me as brother and father both in one。 Moreover； thou knowest that I do all thou biddest me and indeed thou badest me go forth to the folk and sit to judge between them。 Now I was certified that this was loyal counsel on thy part and purposed to go forth to them yesterday； but this sickness betided me and I cannot sit up。 I hear that the folk are incensed at my failure to e forth to them and are minded of their malice to do with me that which is not seemly； for that they know not what aileth me。 So go thou forth to them and acquaint them with my case and excuse me to them； for I am obedient to their bidding and will do according to their desire； wherefore do thou order this affair and engage thyself to them for me of this； for that thou hast been a loyal counsellor to me and to my father before me； and it is of thy wont to make peace between the folk。 To morrow； if it be the will of God the Most High； I will without fail e forth to them； and peradventure my sickness will cease from me this night； by the blessing of the purity of my intent and the good I purpose them in my heart。'
Shimas prostrated himself to God and called down blessings on the king and kissed his hand； rejoicing。 Then he went forth to the folk and told them what he had heard from t