him, and suspecting him, repaired to the Sultan, and told him of this.  So he came and seeing the stones pulled out, was wroth with the merchant and said to him, “Be this my reward from thee, that thou seekest to unveil my Harim?” Thereupon he bade pluck out his eyes; and they did as he commanded.  The merchant took his eyes in his hand and said, “How long, O star of ill-omen, wilt thou afflict me?  First my wealth and now my life!” And he bewailed himself, saying, “Striving profiteth me naught against evil fortune.  The Compassionate aided me not, and effort was worse than useless."[FN#156] “On like wise, O king,” continued the youth, “whilst fortune was favourable to me, all that I did came to good; but now that it hath turned against me, everything turneth to mine ill.”  When the youth had made an end of his tale, the king’s anger subsided a little, and he said, “Return him to the prison, for the day draweth to an end, and to-morrow we will look into his affair, and punish him for his ill-deeds.”

The Second Day.

Of Looking to the Ends of Affairs.

Whenit was the next day, the second of the king’s Wazirs, whose name was Baharun, came in to him and said, “Allah advance the king!  This deed which yonder youth hath done is a grave matter, and a foul misdeed and a heinous against the household of the king.”  So Azadbakht bade fetch the youth, because of the Minister’s speech; and when he came into the presence, said to him, “Woe to thee, O youth!  There is no help but that I do thee die by the dreadest of deaths, for indeed thou hast committed a grave crime, and I will make thee a warning to the folk.”  The youth replied, “O king, hasten not, for the looking to the ends of affairs is a column of the kingdom, and a cause of continuance and assurance for the kingship.  Whoso looketh not to the issues of actions, there befalleth him that which befel the merchant, and whoso looketh to the consequences of actions, there betideth him of joyance that which betideth the merchant’s son.”  The king asked, “And what is the story of the merchant and his sons?” and the youth answered, “Hear, O king,

The Tale of the Merchant and his Sons.[FN#157]

There was once a merchant, who had abundant wealth, and a wife to boot.  He set out one day on a business journey, leaving his wife big with child, and said to her, “Albeit, I now leave thee, yet I will return before the birth of the babe, Inshallah!” Then he farewelled her and setting out, ceased not faring from country to country till he came to the court of one of the kings and foregathered with him.  Now this king needed one who should order his affairs and those of his kingdom and seeing the merchant wellbred and intelligent, he required him to abide at court and entreated him honourably.  After some years, he sought his Sovran’s leave to go to his own house, but the king would not consent to this; whereupon he said to him, “O king, suffer me go and see my children and come again.”  So he granted