and said, “O our lord the Sultan, verily the
Youth hath vanished, and in lieu of him is this Shaykh
well known to the whole city.” Hearing
these words the King was startled; sore fear entered
his heart and he said to himself, “Whoso hath
been able to do this deed can do e’en more:
he can depose me from my kingship or he can devise
my death.” So his affright increased and
he was at a loss how to contrive for such case.
Presently he summoned his Minister and when he came
into the presence said to him, “O Wazir, advise
me how to act in the affair of this Youth and what
measures should be taken.” The Minister
bowed his brow groundwards in thought for a while,
then raising it he addressed the Sultan and said,
“O King of the Age, this be a thing beyond experience,
and the doer must be master of a might we comprehend
not and haply he may work thee in the future some
injury and we fear from him for thy daughter.
Wherefore the right way is that thou issue a royal
autograph and bid the Crier go round about the city
and cry saying, ’Let him who hath wrought this
work appear before the King under promise of safety
and again safety—safety on the word of a
Sultan which shall never be falsed.’ Should
the Youth then surrender himself, O King of the Age,
marry him to thy daughter when perhaps his mind may
be reconciled to thee by love of her. He hath
already cast eyes upon her and he hath seen the inmates
of thy Harem unrobed, so that naught can save their
honour but his being united with the Princess.”
Hereupon the Sultan indited an autographic rescript
and placed it in the Crier’s hands even as the
Wazir had counselled: and the man went about the
streets proclaiming, “By Command of the just
King! whoso hath done this deed let him discover himself
and come to the Palace under promise of safety and
again safety, the safety of sovereigns—safety
on the word of a Sultan which shall never be falsed.”
And the Crier ceased not crying till in fine he reached
the square fronting the great Mosque. The Youth
who was standing there heard the proclamation and
returning to his Shaykh said, “O my lord, the
Crier hath a rescript from the Sultan and he crieth
saying, ’Whoso hath done this deed let him discover
himself and come to the Palace under promise of safety
and again safety—safety on the word of
a Sultan which shall never be falsed.’
And, I must go to him perforce.” Said the
Sage, “O my son, why shouldst thou do on such
wise? Hast thou not already suffered thy sufficiency?”
But the young man exclaimed, “Nothing shall
prevent my going;” and at this the Shaykh replied,
“Go then, O my son, and be thy safeguarding
with the Living, the Eternal.” Accordingly,
the Youth repaired to the Hammam and having bathed
attired himself in the richest attire he owned, after
which he went forth and discovered himself to the Crier
who led him to the Palace and set him before the Sovran.
He salamed to the Sultan and did him obeisance and
prayed for his long life and prosperity in style the