d and took flight all； but each of them deemed himself higher than his fello highest；〃 and that； 〃Nay； that am I。〃 Then said the lowest of them ； 〃Look up； all of you； and whomsoever ye find the highest of you； let him be your chief。〃 So they raised their eyes and seeing the hawk soaring over them； said to each other； 〃We agreed that which bird soever should be the highest of us should be king over us； and behold； the hawk is the highest of us： what say ye to him？〃 And they all cried out； saying； 〃We accept of him。〃
So they called the hawk and said to him； 〃O father of good； we have chosen thee governor over us； that thou mayst look into our affair。〃 The hawk consented； saying； 〃God willing； ye shall have of me great good。〃 But； after awhile； he fell to taking a pany of them and betaking himself with them afar off to one of the caves； where he struck them down and eating their eyes and brains； threw their bodies into the river。 Thus he did every day； it being his intent to destroy them all； ＇one after another＇； till； seeing that their number diminished daily； the crows flocked to him and said； 〃O our king； we plain to thee for that； since the day we made thee king and ruler over us； we are in the sorriest case and every day a pany of us is missing and we know not the cause of this； more by token that the most part thereof are of those in attendance on thee。〃
Thereupon the hawk waxed wroth with them and said to them； 〃Verily it is ye who have slain them； and ye forestall me ＇with accusation＇。〃 So saying； he pounced upon them and tearing half a score of their chiefs ＇in pieces＇ before the rest； threatened them and drove them out from before him with blows and buffets。 So they repented them of that which they had done and said； 〃We have known no good since the death of our first king； especially in the deed of this stranger in kind； but we deserve ＇all we suffer＇； even had he destroyed us to the last of us； and there is exemplified in us the saying of Him who saith； 'He who submitteth not himself to the rule of his own people； the enemy hath dominion over him； of his ignorance。' And now there is nothing for it but to flee for our lives； else shall we perish。〃 So they took flight and dispersed to various places。
And we； O king；' continued the vizier； 'we feared lest the like of this befall us and a king bee ruler over us； other than thyself； but God hath vouchsafed us this boon and hath sent us this blessed child； and now we are assured of peace and union and security and prosperity in the land。 So blessed be God the Great and to Him be thanks and praise and fair honour！ And may He bless the king and us all his subjects and vouchsafe unto us and him the utmost felicity and make his life happy and his fortune constant！'
Then arose the sixth vizier and said； 'God grant thee all felicity； O king； in this world and the next！ Verily； the ancients say； 〃He who prayeth and fasteth and giveth parents their due and is just in his rule meeteth his Lord and He is well pleased with him。〃 Thou hast been set over us and hast ruled us justly and thine endeavour in this hath been blessed； wherefore we beseech God the Most High to make great thy reward and requite thee thy goodness。 I have heard what this wise man hath said respecting our fear for the loss of our prosperity； by reason of the death of the king or the advent of another who should not be like him； and how after him dissensions would be rife among us and calamity betide thereupon； and how it behoved up therefore to be instant in prayer to God the Most High； so haply He might vouchsafe the king a happy son； to inherit the kingship after him。 But； after all； the issue of that which man desireth of the goods of the world and after which he lusteth is unknown unto him； and it behoveth him to ask not of his Lord a thing whose issue he knoweth not； for that belike the hurt of the thing is nearer to him than its profit and his destruction may be in that he seeketh and there may befall him what befell the serpentcharmer's wife and children and the people of his house。' 'What was that？' asked the king。 'Know； O king；' replied the vizier； 'that
The Serpentcharmer and His Wife。
There was once a man； a serpentcharmer； who used to ＇catch and＇ train serpents； and this was his trade； and he had a great basket； in which were three snakes； but the people of his house knew this not。 Every day he used to take the basket and go round about the town with it； gaining his living and that of his family ＇by exhibiting the snakes＇； and at eventide he returned to his house and clapped them back into the basket privily。 One day； when he came home； as of wont； his wife asked him what was in the basket and he said； 〃What wouldst thou with it？ Is not victual plentiful with you？ Be content with that which God hath allotted to thee and enquire not of aught else。〃 With this she held her peace； but she said in herself； 〃Needs must I search the basket and know what is therein。〃 So she egged on her children to ask him of the basket and importune him； till he should tell them what was therein。 They concluded that it contained something to eat and sought every day of their father that he should show them what was in it； and he still put them off and forbade them from asking this。
On this wise they abode awhile； till they agreed with their mother that they would neither eat nor drink with their father； till he granted them their prayer and opened the basket to them。 One night； the serpentcharmer came home with great plenty of meat and drink and called them to eat with him； but they refused and showed him anger； whereupon he began to coax them with fair words； saying； 〃Tell me what you would have； that I may bring it you； be it meat or drink or clothes。〃 〃O our father；〃 answered they； 〃we want nothing of thee but that thou open this basket and show us what is therein： else we will kill ourselves。〃 〃O my children；〃 rejoined he； 〃there is nothing good for you therein and indeed the opening of it will be hurtful to you。〃 They only redoubled in despite for all he could say； which when he saw； he began to berate them and threaten them with beating； except they left this； but they redoubled in anger and persistence in asking； till at last he waxed wroth and took a stick to beat them； and they fled from him within the house。
Now the basket was present and he had not hidden it anywhere； so his wife left him occupied with the children and opened the basket in haste； that she might see what was therein； whereupon the serpents came out and bit her and killed her。 Then they went round about the house and killed all； great and small； who were therein； except the serpentcharmer； who left the place and went away。 If then； O august king；' continued the vizier； 'thou consider this； thou wilt know that it is not for a man to desire aught but that which God the Most High refuseth not to him； nay； he should be content with what He willeth。 And thou； O king； for the abundance of thy wisdom and the excellence of thine understanding； God hath solaced thine eyes with the advent of this thy son； after despair； and hath forted thine heart； wherefore we pray God to make him of the just kings； acceptable to Himself and to his subje