Pagina 186 di 1116

Said the King for sole return, "Knowest thou why I have summoned

thee?" and the Sage replied, "Allah Most Highest alone kenneth

hidden things!" But the King rejoined, "I summoned thee only to

take thy life and utterly to destroy thee." Duban the Wise

wondered at this strange address with exceeding wonder and asked,

"O King, and wherefore wouldest thou slay me, and what ill have I

done thee?" and the King answered, "Men tell me thou art a spy

sent hither with intent to slay me; and lo! I will kill thee ere

I be killed by thee;" then he called to his Sworder, and said,

"Strike me off the head of this traitor and deliver us from his

evil practices." Quoth the Sage, "Spare me and Allah will spare

thee; slay me not or Allah shall slay thee." And he repeated to

him these very words, even as I to thee, O Ifrit, and yet thou

wouldst not let me go, being bent upon my death.