Kings, and they were a numerous company.  Then Sayf al-Muluk questioned them of the City of Babel and the Garden of Iram, but none of them returned him a reply, whereupon he was bewildered and wist not what to do; but one of the sea-captains said to him, “O auspicious King, an thou wouldst know of this city and that garden, up and hie thee to the Islands of the Indian realm."[FN#397] Thereupon Sayf al-Muluk bade bring the ships; which being done, they freighted them with vivers and water and all that they needed, and the Prince and his Wazir re-embarked, with all their men, after they had farewelled King Faghfur Shah.  They sailed the seas four months with a fair wind, in safety and satisfaction till it chanced tha tone day of the days there came out upon them a wind and the billows buffeted them from all quarters.  The rain and hail[FN#398] descended on them and during twenty days the sea was troubled for the violence of the wind; wherefor the ships drave one against other and brake up, as did the carracks[FN#399] and all on board were drowned, except Sayf al-Muluk and some of his servants, who saved themselves in a little cock-boat.  Then the wind fell by the decree of Allah Almighty and the sun shone out; whereupon Sayf al-Muluk opened his eyes and seeing no sign of the ships nor aught, but sky and sea, said to the Mamelukes who were with him, “Where are the carracks and cock-boats and where is my brother Sa’id?” They replied, “O King of the Age, there remain nor ships nor boats nor those who were therein; for they are all drowned and become food for fishes.”  Now when he heard this, he cried aloud and repeated the saying which whoso saith shall not be confounded, and it is, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!” Then he fell to buffeting his face and would have cast himself into the sea, but his Mamelukes withheld him, saying “O King, what will this profit thee?  Thou hast brought all this on thyself; for, hadst thou hearkened to thy father’s words, naught thereof had betided thee.  But this was written from all eternity by the will of the Creator of Souls.”—­And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

     When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night,

She resume, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sayf al-Muluk would have cast himself into the main, his Mamelukes withheld him saying, “What will this profit thee?  Thou hast done this deed by thyself, yet was it written from all eternity by the will of the Creator of Souls, that the creature might accomplish that which Allah hath decreed unto him.  And indeed, at the time of thy birth, the astrologers assured thy sire that all manner troubles should befal thee.  So there is naught for it but patience till Allah deliver us from this our strait.”  Replied the Prince, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!  Neither is there refuge nor fleeing from that which He decreeth!” And he sighed and recited these couplets,