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The Third Night of the Month

When it was the time of the evening meal, the king repaired to the sitting-chamber and summoning the vizier, sought of him the story he had promised him; and the vizier said, “They avouch, O king, that

STORY OF THE KING WHO KNEW THE QUINTESSENCE[Footnote 204] OF THINGS.

[Footnote 204] i.e. the essential nature, lit. jewel.

There came to a king of the kings, in his old age, a son, who grew up comely, quick-witted and intelligent, and when he came to years of discretion and became a young man, his father said to him, ‘Take this kingdom and govern it in my stead, for I desire to flee [from the world] to God the Most High and don the gown of wool and give myself up to devotion.’ Quoth the prince, ‘And I also desire to take refuge with God the Most High.’ And the king said, ‘Arise, let us flee forth and make for the mountains and worship in them, for shamefastness before God the Most High.’

So they gat them raiment of wool and clothing themselves therewith, went forth and wandered in the deserts and wastes; but, when some days had passed over them, they became weak for hunger and repented them of that which they had done, whenas repentance profited them not, and the prince complained to his father of weariness and hunger. ‘Dear my son,’ answered the king, ‘I did with thee that which behoved me,[205] but thou wouldst not hearken to me, and now there is no means of returning to thy former estate, for that another hath taken the kingdom and become its defender; but I will counsel thee of somewhat, wherein do thou pleasure me.’ Quoth the prince, ‘What is it?’ And his father said, ‘Take me and go with me to the market and sell me and take my price and do with it what thou wilt, and I shall become the property of one who will provide for my support,’ ‘Who will buy thee of me,’ asked the prince, ‘seeing thou art a very old man? Nay, do thou rather sell me, for the demand for me will be greater.’ But the king said, ‘An thou wert king, thou wouldst require me of service.’

[Footnote 205] i.e. in proffering thee the kingship.

So the youth obeyed his father’s commandment and taking him, carried him to the slave-dealer and said to the latter, ‘Sell me this old man.’ Quoth the dealer, ‘Who will buy this fellow, and he a man of fourscore?’ Then said he to the king, ‘In what crafts dost thou excel?’ Quoth he, ‘I know the quintessence of jewels and I know the quintessence of horses and that of men; brief, I know the quintessence of all things.’ So the dealer took him and went about, offering him for sale to the folk; but none would buy. Presently, up came the overseer of the [Sultan’s] kitchen and said, ‘What is this man?’ And the dealer answered, ‘This is a slave for sale.’ The cook marvelled at this and bought the king for ten thousand dirhems, after questioning him of what he could do. Then he paid down the money and carried him to his house, but dared not employ him in aught of service; so he appointed him an allowance, such as should suffice for his livelihood, and repented him of having bought him, saying, ‘What shall I do with the like of this fellow?’

Presently, the king [of the city] was minded to go forth to his garden,[206] a-pleasuring, and bade the cook forego him thither and appoint in his stead one who should dress meat for the king, so that, when he returned, he might find it ready. So the cook fell a-considering of whom he should appoint and was bewildered concerning his affair. As he was on this wise, the old man came to him and seeing him perplexed how he should do, said to him, ‘Tell me what is in thy mind; belike, I may avail to relieve thee.’ So he acquainted him with the king’s wishes and he said, ‘Have no care for this, but leave me one of the serving-men and go thou in peace and surety, for I will suffice thee of this.’ So the cook departed with the king, after he had brought the old man what he needed and left him a man of the guards.