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I tarried with him three days; at the end of which time he said

to me, "Knowest thou no calling whereby to win thy living, O my

son?" "I am learned in the law," I replied, "and a doctor of

doctrine; an adept in art and science, a mathematician and a

notable penman." He rejoined, "Thy calling is of no account in

our city, where not a soul understandeth science or even writing

or aught save money making." Then said I, "By Allah, I know

nothing but what I have mentioned;" and he answered, "Gird thy

middle and take thee a hatchet and a cord, and go and hew wood in

the wold for thy daily bread, till Allah send thee relief; and

tell none who thou art lest they slay thee." Then he bought me an

axe and a rope and gave me in charge to certain wood cutters; and

with these guardians I went forth into the forest, where I cut

fuel wood the whole of my day and came back in the evening

bearing my bundle on my head.