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omewhat。 What is the best of the goods of the world？' 'Health of body；' replied the prince； 'lawful provision and a virtuous son。' （Q。） 'What is the greater and what the less？' （A。） 'The greater is that to which a lesser than itself submitteth and the less that which submitteth to a greater than itself。' （Q。） 'What are the four things in which all creatures concur？' （A。） 'Meat and drink； the delight of sleep； the lust of women and the agonies of death。' （Q。） 'What are the three things whose foulness none can do away？' （A。） 'Folly； meanness of nature and lying。' （Q。） 'What is the best kind of lie； though all kinds are foul？' （A。） 'That which averteth harm from its utterer and bringeth profit。' （Q。） 'What kind of truthfulness is foul； though all kinds are fair？' （A。） 'That of a man glorying in that which he hath （177） and boasting himself thereof。' （Q。） 'What is the foulest of foulnesses？' （A。） 'When a man boasteth himself of that which he hath not。' （178） （Q。） 'Who is the most foolish of men？' （A。） 'He who hath no thought but of what he shall put in his belly。'
Then said Shimas； 'O king； verily thou art our king； but we desire that thou assign the kingdom to thy son after thee； and we will be thy servants and subjects。' So the king exhorted the learned men and others who were present to remember that which they had heard and do according thereto and enjoined them to obey his son's mandment； for that he made him his heirapparent； so he should be the successor of the king his father； and he took an oath of all the people of his empire； doctors and braves and old men and boys； that they would not oppose him ＇in the succession＇ nor transgress against his mandment。
When the prince was seventeen years old； the king sickened of a sore sickness and came nigh unto death； so； being certified that his last hour was at hand； he said to the people of his household； 'This is a mortal sickness that is upon me； wherefore do ye summon the grandees and notables of my empire； so not one of them may remain except he be present。' Accordingly； they made proclamation to those who were near and made known the summons to those who were afar off； and they all assembled and went in to the king。 Then said they to him； 'How is it with thee； O king； and how deemest thou for thyself of this thy sickness？' Quoth Jelyaad； 'Verily； this my sickness is mortal and the arrow ＇of death＇ hath executed that which God the Most High decreed against me： this is the last of my days in this world and the first of my days in the world to e。' Then said he to his son； 'Draw near unto me。' So he drew near； weeping sore； that he came nigh to wet the bed； whilst the king's eyes brimmed over with tears and all who were present wept。 Quoth Jelyaad； 'Weep not； O my son； I am not the first whom this inevitable thing betideth； nay； it is mon to all that God hath created。 But fear thou God and do good； that shall forego thee to the place whither all creatures tend。 Obey not thy lusts； but occupy thyself with the praises of God in thy standing up and thy sitting down and in thy sleep and thy wake。 Make the truth the aim of thine eyes； this is the last of my speech with thee and peace be on thee。'
Then he bequeathed him the kingdom and the prince said； 'O my father； thou knowest that I have never ceased from obedience unto thee and mindfulness of thine injunctions； still carrying out thy mandment and seeking thine approve； for thou hast been to me the best of fathers。 How； then； after thy death； shall I depart from that whereof thou approvest？ After having fairly ordered my bringing up； thou art now about to depart from me and I have no power to bring thee back to me； but； if I be mindful of thine injunctions； I shall be blessed therein and great good hap will betide me。' Quoth the king； and indeed he was in the last agony； 'Dear my son； cleave fast unto ten precepts which if thou observe； God shall profit thee herewith in this world and the next； and they are as follows。 When thou art angered； curb thy wrath； when thou art afflicted； be patient； when thou speakest； be truthful； when thou promisest； perform； when thou judgest； do justice； when thou hast power； be merciful； deal generously by thy governors and lieutenants； five those that transgress against thee； be lavish of good offices to thine enemy and withhold thy mischief from him。 Observe also other seven preceptor wherewith God shall profit thee among the people of thy realm； to wit； when thou dividest； be just； when thou punishest； oppress not； when thou makest an engagement； fulfil thine engagement； hearken to those that give thee loyal counsel； abstain from contention； enjoin thy subjects to the observance of the divine laws and of praiseworthy usages； do equal justice between the folk； so they may love thee； great and small； and the froward and corrupt of them may fear thee。'
Thn he addressed himself to the amirs and doctors； who were present when he appointed his son to be his successor； saying； 'Beware of transgressing the mandment of your king and neglecting to hearken to your chief； for in this lies ruin for your country and sundering for your union and hurt for your bodies and perdition for your goods； and your enemies would exult over you。 Ye know the covenant ye made with me； and even thus shall be your covenant with this youth； and the pact that is between you and me shall be also between you and him； wherefore it behoveth you to give ear unto his mandment and obey him； for that in this is the wellbeing of your estates。 So be ye constant with him unto that wherein ye were with me and your affair shall prosper and your case be good； for； behold； he hath the kingship over you and is the lord of your fortune； and so peace be on you！' Then the deathagony seized him and his tongue was bridled： so he pressed his son to his bosom and kissed him and gave thanks unto God； after which his hour came and his soul departed ＇his body＇。
All his subjects and the people of his court mourned over him and they shrouded him and buried him with pomp and honour and reverence； after which they returned with the prince and seating him on the throne of kingship； clad him in the royal robes and crowned him with his father's crown and put the sealring on his finger。 He ordered himself towards them； a little while； after his father's fashion of mildness and justice and benevolence； till the world waylaid him and tempted him with its lusts； whereupon he seized on its pleasures and turned to its vain delights； forsaking the engagements which his father had mended to him and casting of his obedience to him； neglecting the affairs of his kingdom and walking in a road wherein was his own destruction。 In particular； the love of women was stark in him and came to such a pass that； whenever he heard tell of a fair woman； he would send and make her to wife。 After this wise； he collected women more in number than ever had Solomon； son of David； King of the children of Israel； and would shut himself up with a pany of them for a month at a time； during which he went not forth neither enquired of his kingdom or its governance nor looked into the grievances of such of his subjects as plained to him； and if they wrote to him； he returned them no a