“Do thou good to men and so rule their necks:  * Long reigns who
     by benefit rules mankind: 
And lend aid to him who for aidance hopes:  * For aye grateful is
     man with a noble mind: 
Who brings money the many to him will incline * And money for
     tempting of man was designed: 
Who hindereth favour and bounties, ne’er * Or brother or friend
     in creation shall find: 
With harsh looks frown not in the Sage’s face; * Disgusteth the
     freeman denial unkind: 
Who frequenteth mankind all of good unknow’th:  * Man is lief of
     rebellion, of largesse loath.”

When the Sultan heard these couplets, his mind was distraught and he was perplext in thought; then turning to his Wazir, he said, “By Allah, these lines were surely an examination of and an allusion to our two selves; and doubtless she weeteth of us that I am the Sultan and thou art the Wazir, for the whole tenor of her talk proveth her knowledge of us.”  Then he turned to the maiden and said, “Right good are thy verse and thy voice, and thy words have delighted us with exceeding delight.”  Upon this she sang the following two couplets:—­

“Men seek for them sorrow, and toil * Thro’ long years as they
     brightly flow;
But Fate, in the well like the tank[FN#148] * Firm-fixt, ruleth
     all below.”

Now as soon as the Sultan heard these last two couplets he made certain that the damsel was aware of his quality.  She did not leave off her lute-playing till near daylight, when she rose and retired and presently brought in a breakfast befitting her degree (for indeed she was pleased with them); and when she had served it up they ate a small matter which sufficed them.  After this she said, “Inshallah, you will return to us this night before supper-tide and become our guests;” and the twain went their ways marvelling at the beauty of the sisters and their loveliness and their fearlessness in the matter of the proclamation; and the Sultan said to the Wazir, “By Allah, my soul inclineth unto that maiden.”  And they stinted not walking until they had entered the palace.  But when that day had gone by and evening drew nigh, the Monarch made ready to go, he and the Minister, to the dwelling of the damsels—­And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say.  Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, “How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!” Quoth she, “And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive.”  Now when it was the next night and that was

The Three Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night,