his subjects and returned to them all that he took from them and lived a grateful and prosperous life.  Thus right counsel and prudence are better than wealth, for that understanding profiteth at all times and seasons.  “Nor,” continued the Wazir, “is this stranger than the story of the Man whose caution slew him.”  When the king heard the words of his Wazir, he wondered with the uttermost wonder and bade him retire to his lodging.

The Fourteenth Night of the Month.

Whenthe Minister returned to the presence, the King sought of him the story of the Man whose caution slew him and he said, “Hear, O auspicious King,

The Tale of the Man whose Caution Slew Him.

There was once a man who was cautious exceedingly concerning himself, and he set out one day on a journey to a land abounding in wild beasts.  The caravan wherewith he fared came by night to the gate of a city; but the warders would not open to them, for there were lions there; so they nighted without the walls.  Now that man, of the excess of his caution, could not determine a place wherein he should pass the night, for fear of the wild beasts and reptiles; so he went about seeking an empty stead wherein he might lie.  At last, as there was a ruined building hard by, he climbed up on to a high wall and ceased not clambering hither and thither, of the excess of his carefulness, till his feet betrayed him and he slipped and fell to the bottom and died, whilst his companions arose in the morning safe and sound.  Now, had he overmastered his wrongous rede and had he submitted himself to Fate and Fortune, it had been safer and better for him; but he made light of the folk and belittled their wit and was not content to take example by them; for his soul whispered him that he was a man of wits and he fancied that, an he abode with them, he would perish; so his folly cast him into perdition.  “Nor,” continued the Wazir, “is this stranger than the story of the Man who was lavish of his house and his provision to one he knew not.”  When the King heard this, he said, “I will not separate myself from the folk and slay my Minister.”  And he bade him hie to his own house.

The Fifteenth Night of the Month.

When the evening evened, the King bade fetch the Wazir and required of him the story.  So he said, “Hear, O King,

The Tale of the Man who was Lavish of his House and his Provision to One Whom He Knew Not.

There was once an Arab of high rank and noble presence, a model of magnanimity and exalted generosity, and he had brethren, with whom he consorted and caroused, and they were wont to assemble by rotation at one another’s homes.  When it came to his turn, he gat ready in his house all manner goodly meats and pleasant and dainty drinks and the fairest flowers and the finest fruits, and he provided all kinds of instruments of music and store of wondrous dictes and marvellous stories and pleasant instances and histories and witty anecdotes and verses and what not