When my father died, and I ascended the throne, it was in the very season of youth, and all this kingdom of Rum was under my dominion.  It happened one year, that some merchant from the country of Badakhshan [258] came [to my capital] and brought a good deal of merchandise.  The reporters of intelligence [259] sent notice to me to this effect, that so considerable a merchant had never visited our city before:  I sent for him.

“He came, and brought with him the rarities of every country, which were worthy of being offered to me, as presents.  Indeed, every article appeared to be of inestimable value; above all, there was a ruby in a box, of an exceedingly fine colour, very brilliant, perfect in shape and size, and in weight [amounting to] five miskals. [260] Though I was a king, I had never seen such a precious stone, nor had I heard of such from any other person.  I accepted it, and bestowed upon the merchant many presents and honours; I gave him passports for the roads, that throughout my empire no one should ask him any duties; that they should treat him with kindness wherever he went; that he should be waited on, and have guards for his protection, and that they should consider any loss he might experience as their own.  The merchant attended at the time of audience, and was well versed in the forms of respect due to royalty; his conversation and eloquence were worth hearing.  I used to send for the ruby daily from the jewel office, and look at it at the time of public audience.

One day I was seated in the diwani ’amm, and the nobles and officers of state were in waiting in their respective places, and the ambassadors of different sovereigns, who had come to congratulate me [on my accession to the throne], were likewise present.  I then sent for the ruby, according to custom; the officer of the jewel office brought it; I took it in my hand and began to praise it, and gave it to the ambassador of the Franks [to look at it].  On seeing it, he smiled, and praised it by way of flattery; in the same manner it passed from hand to hand, and every one looked at it, and all said together, “The preponderance of your majesty’s good fortune has procured you this; for otherwise, even unto this day, no monarch has ever acquired so inestimable a jewel.”  At that moment my father’s wazir, who was wise, and held the same station under me, and was standing in his place, made his obeisance and said, “I wish to impart something [to the royal ear], if my life be granted.”

I ordered him to speak; he said, “Mighty sire, you are king, and it is very unbecoming in kings to laud so highly a stone; though it is unique in colour, in quality, and in weight, yet it is but a stone; and at this moment the ambassadors of all countries are present in the court; when they return to their respective countries, they will assuredly relate this anecdote, saying, ’What a strange king he is, who has got a ruby from somewhere, and makes such a