[73] The “Great Name” (in Arabic, El-Ism el-Aazam, “the
        Most Great Name"), by means of which King David was
        saved from a cruel death, as above, is often employed in
        Eastern romances for the rescue of the hero from deadly
        peril, as well as to enable him to perform supernatural
        exploits.  It was generally engraved on a signet-ring,
        but sometimes it was communicated orally to the
        fortunate hero by a holy man, or by a king of the
        genii—­who was, of course, a good Muslim.

Of Solomon the Wise there are, of course, many curious rabbinical legends.  His reputation for superior sagacity extended over all the world, and the wisest men of other nations came humbly to him as pupils.  It would appear that this great monarch was not less willing to afford the poorest of his subjects the benefit of his advice when they applied to him than able to solve the knottiest problem which the most keen-witted casuist could propound.  One morning a man, whose life was embittered by a froward, shrewish wife, left his house to seek the advice of Solomon.  On the road he overtook another man, with whom he entered into conversation, and presently learned that he was also going to the king’s palace.  “Pray, friend,” said he, “what might be your business with the king?  I am going to ask him how I should manage a wife who has long been froward.”  “Why,” said the other, “I employ a great many people, and have a great deal of capital invested in my business; yet I find I am losing more and more every year, instead of gaining; and I want to know the cause, and how it may be remedied.”  By-and-by they overtook a third man, who informed them that he was a physician whose practice had fallen off considerably, and he was proceeding to ask King Solomon’s advice as to how it might be increased.  At length they reached the palace, and it was arranged among them that the man who had the shrewish wife should first present himself before the king.  In a short time he rejoined his companions with a rather puzzled expression of countenance, and the others inquiring how he had sped, he answered:  “I can see no wisdom in the king’s advice; he simply advised me to go to a mill.”  The second man then went in, and returned quite as much perplexed as the first, saying:  “Of a truth, Solomon is not so wise as he is reported to be; would you believe it?—­all he said to me when I had told him my grievance was, get up early in the morning.”  The third man, somewhat discouraged by these apparently idle answers, entered the presence-chamber, and on coming out told his companions that the king had simply advised him to be proud.  Equally disappointed, the trio returned homeward together.  They had not gone far when one of them said to the first man:  “Here is a mill; did not the king advise you to go into one?” The man entered, and presently ran out, exclaiming:  “I’ve got it!