forfeit of him three hundred and sixty dirhams a year.[FN#378] Thus wilt thou lose the mickle in keeping the little.”  Quoth the Tither, “Verily[FN#379] will I give him a dirham every month to the rent of his lodging.”  Then he went on and presently there met him a third woodcutter and he said to him, “Pay thy due;” but he said, “I will pay thee a dirham, when I enter the city; or take of me four daniks[FN#380] now.”  Quoth the Tither, “I will not do it,” but the Shaykh said to him, “Take of him the four daniks presently, for ’tis easy to take and hard to give back.”  Exclaimed the Tither, “By Allah ’tis good!” and he arose and hied on, crying out at the top of his voice and saying, “I have no power this day to do evil."[FN#381] Then he doffed his dress and went forth wandering at a venture, repenting unto his Lord.  “Nor” (continued the Wazir), “is this story stranger than that of the Robber who believed the Woman and sought refuge with Allah against falling in with her like, by reason of her cunning contrivance for herself.”  When the king heard this, he said to himself, “Since the Tither repented, in consequence of the woodcutter’s warnings, it behoveth I leave this Wazir on life so I may hear the story of the Robber and the Woman.”  And he bade Al-Rahwan return to his lodging.

The Eleventh Night of the Month.

When the evening came and the king had taken his seat, he summoned the Wazir and required of him the story of the Robber and the Woman.  Quoth the Minister, “Hear, O king,

The Tale of the Robber and the Woman.

A certain Robber was a cunning workman and used not to steal aught, till he had wasted all that was with him; moreover, he stole not from his neighbours, neither companied with any of the thieves, for fear lest some one should betray him, and his case become public.  After this fashion he abode a great while, in flourishing condition, and his secret was concealed, till Almighty Allah decreed that he broke in upon a beggar, a poor man whom he deemed rich.  When he gained access to the house, he found naught, whereat he was wroth, and necessity prompted him to wake that man, who lay asleep alongside of his wife.  So he aroused him and said to him, “Show me thy treasure.”  Now he had no treasure to show; but the Robber believed him not and was instant upon him with threats and blows.  When he saw that he got no profit of him, he said to him, “Swear by the oath of divorce[FN#382] from thy wife that thou hast nothing.”  So he sware and his wife said to him, “Fie on thee!  Wilt thou divorce me?  Is not the hoard buried in yonder chamber?” Then she turned to the Robber and conjured him to be weightier of blows upon her husband, till he should deliver to him the treasure, anent which he had forsworn himself.  So he drubbed him with a grievous drubbing, till he carried him to a certain chamber, wherein she signed to him that the hoard was and that he should take it up.  So the Robber entered, he and the husband;