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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 justice and equity and humility and obeying the mandments of God the Most High； applying thyself to gentle dealing with those of His creatures whom He hath mitted to thy governance and being assiduous in fulfilling their prayers unto thee； in accordance with that which is incumbent on thee。 If thou be constant in the practice of these virtues； may thy days be serene and may God of His mercy spare thee and make thee revered of all who look on thee； so shall thine energies be brought to nought； for God the Most High shall put their hosts to the rout； and thou shalt have acceptance with Him and be loved and reverenced of His creatures。'
'Verily；' said the king； 'thou hast quickened mine entrails and enlightened my heart with thy sweet speech and hast opened the eyes of mine understanding； after blindness； and I am resolved to do all thou hast set forth to me； with the help of God the Most High； leaving my former estate of lust and frowardness and bringing forth my soul from duresse into freedom and from fear into safety。 It behoveth thee； then； to be joyful and contented； for that I； for all my greater age； am bee to thee as a son； and thou to me as a dear father； for all thy tenderness of years； and it is grown incumbent on me to do my utmost endeavour in that thou mandest me。
Wherefore I thank the bounty of God the Most High and thy bounty for that He hath vouchsafed me； by thee； fair fortune and good guidance and just judgment to fend off my trouble and anxiety； and the deliverance of my people hath been brought about by means of the excellence of thy skill and the goodliness of thine ordinance。 Henceforward； thou shalt be the governor of my kingdom and equal to myself in all but sitting upon the throne； and all that thou dost shall be law to me and none shall gainsay thy word； young in years though thou be； for that thou art old in wit and knowledge。 So I thank God who hath vouchsafed thee to me； that thou mayst guide me out of the crooked paths of perdition into the way of righteousness。'
Quoth the vizier； 'O august king； know that no merit is due to me for giving thee loyal counsel； for that to succour thee by deed and word is of that which is incumbent on me； seeing that I am but a plant of thy bounty； nor I alone； but my father before me was overwhelmed with thy favours； so that we are both alike partakers in thy munificence； and how shall we not acknowledge this？ Moreover thou； O king； art our shepherd and ruler and he who wards off our enemies from us and to whom is mitted our protection and our guardian； instant in endeavour for our safety。 Indeed； though we lavished our lives in thy service； yet should we not fulfil that which behoveth us of gratitude to thee； but we supplicate God the Most High； who hath set thee in dominion over us and made thee our ruler； and beseech Him to vouchsafe thee long life and success in all thine enterprises and not to try thee with afflictions in thy time； but bring thee to thy desire and make thee to be reverenced till the day of thy death and lengthen thine arms in beneficence and generosity； so thou mayst have mandment over every wise man and subdue every froward one and all men of wisdom and mettle be found with thee in thy realm and all the ignorant and fainthearted be plucked out therefrom； and we pray Him to withhold from thy people scarcity and misfortune and sow among them love and good fellowship and cause them to enjoy of this world its prosperity and of the next its felicity； of His grace and bounty and hidden mercies。 Amen。 For He can all things and there is nought difficult unto Him； in whom all things have their goal and glace of returning。'
When the king heard the vizier's prayers he was mightily rejoiced thereat and inclined to him with his whole heart； saying； 'Henceforth； O vizier； thou art to me in the stead of brother and son and father； and nought but death shall sever me from thee。 Thou shalt have the disposal of all that my hand possesses； and if I have no child to succeed me； thou shalt sit on my throne in my stead； for thou art the worthiest of all the people of my realm； and I will invest thee with my kingship and appoint thee my heir presumptive to inherit the kingdom after me； if it be the will of God the Most High； in the presence of the grandees of my state； and will them to witness thereof。'
Then he called his secretary and bade him write to all the notables of his kingdom； summoning them to his court； and caused proclamation to be made in his city unto all the townsfolk great and small； bidding all the amirs and governors and chamberlains and other officers and dignitaries； as well as the sages and doctors of the law； to his presence。 Moreover he held a grand divan and made a banquet； never was its like； and bade all the folks high and low； thereto。 So they all assembled and abode in eating and drinking and delight a month's space； after which the king clothed all his household and the poor of his kingdom and bestowed abundant largesse on the men of learning。
Then he chose out a number of the sages and wise men； by counsel of the son of Shim