dearer than a son to the king, who could not support being separated from him.  When the Wazirs saw this, they were jealous of him and envied him and sought a device against him whereby they might oust him from the King’s eye,[FN#143] but found no means.  At last, when Fate descended,[FN#144] it chanced that the youth one day of the days drank wine and became drunken and wandered from his right wits; so he fell to going round about within the king’s palace and Destiny led him to the lodging of the women, in which there was a little sleeping chamber, where the king lay with his wife.  Thither came the youth and entering the dormitory, found there a spread couch, to wit, a sleeping-place:  so he cast himself on the bed, marvelling at the paintings that were in the chamber, which was lighted by one waxen taper.  Presently he fell asleep and slumbered heavily till eventide, when there came a hand-maid, bringing with her as of wont all the dessert, eatables and drinkables, usually made ready for the king and his wife, and seeing the youth lying on his back (and none knowing of his case and he in his drunkenness unknowing where he was), thought that he was the king asleep on his couch; so she set the censing-vessel and laid the perfumes by the bedding, then shut the door and went her ways.  Soon after this, the king arose from the wine-chamber and taking his wife by the hand, repaired with her to the chamber in which he slept.  He opened the door and entered when, lo and behold! he saw the youth lying on the bed, whereupon he turned to his wife and said to her, “What doth this youth here?  This fellow cometh not hither save on thine account.”  Said she.  “I have no knowledge of him.”  Hereupon the youth awoke and seeing the king, sprang up and prostrated himself before him, and Azadbakht said to him, “O vile of birth,[FN#145] O traitor of unworth, what hath driven thee to my dwelling?” And he bade imprison him in one place and the Queen in another.

The First Day

Of the Uselessness of Endeavour Against Persistent Ill Fortune.

When the morning morrowed and the king sat on the throne of his kingship, he summoned his Grand Wazir, the Premier of all his Ministers, and said to him, “How seest thou the deed this robber-youth hath done?[FN#146] He hath entered my Harim and lain down on my couch and I fear lest there be an object between him and the woman.  What deemest thou of the affair?” Said the Wazir, “Allah prolong the king’s continuance!  What sawest thou in this youth?[FN#147] Is he not ignoble of birth, the son of thieves?  Needs must a thief revert to his vile origin, and whoso reareth the serpent’s brood shall get of them naught but biting.  As for the woman, she is not at fault; since from time ago until now, nothing appeared from her except good breeding and modest bearing; and at this present, an the king give me leave, I will go to her and question her, so I may discover to thee the affair.”  The king gave him leave for