’None save the pious Youth gains boon of Paradise * (To whom the
     Lord doth pardon crime and sin and vice),
Whose back by constant prayer through murk o’ night is bent * And
     longs to merit Heaven in sore and painful guise. 
Hail to the slave who ever would his lord obey * And who by death
     is saved when he obedient dies.’ "

The Fowl-let continued, “O my brother, of truth the token is that whereof thou hast spoken and I have understood thee and am certified of thy sooth.  But yet, I see upon thee a robe[FN#288] of hair!” and the Trap rejoined, “O my brother, knowest thou not of hair and wool that they be the wear of the pious and the religious, whereof one of the poets hath spoken in these words,

’Folk who in fear of long accompt[FN#289] for naught of worldly
     care * Hail to them! haply garb of wool they’ll change for
     silken wear: 
In life for provaunt shall suffice them salt and barley bread *
     Who seek th’ Almighty Lord and bow the head in sedulous
     pray’r.’ "

The Birdie resumed, “In very deed thy speech the sooth doth teach; but say me what be this staff[FN#290] thou hendest in hand?” Replied the Trap, “O my brother, know that I have become an olden man well shotten in years and my strength is minished, wherefor I have taken me a staff that I may prop me thereon and that it aid my endeavour when a-fasting.”  The Fowl-let pursued, “Thy speech is true, O my brother, and thou speakest as due, yet would I ask thee of a matter nor refuse me information thereanent:  tell me why and wherefore this plenty of grain scattered all about thee?” The Trap answered, “Indeed the merchants and men of wealth bring to me this victual that I may bestow it in charity upon the Fakir and the famisht;” and the Birdie rejoined, “O my brother, I also am an hungered; so dost thou enjoin me to eat thereof?” “Thou art my companion,” cried the Trap, “so upon me such injunction is a bounden duty,” presently adding, “Be so kind, O my brother, and haste thee hither and eat.”  Hereat the Fowl-let flew down from off his tree and approaching little by little (with a heart beating for fear of the Trap) picked up a few grains which lay beside it until he came to the corn set in the loop of the springe.  Hereupon he pecked at it with one peck nor had he gained aught of good therefrom ere the Trap came down heavily upon him and entangled his neck and held him fast.  Hereupon he was seized with a fit of sore affright and he cried out, “Zik! zik!” and “Mik! mik![FN#291] Verily I have fallen into wreak and am betrayed by friendly freke and oh, the excess of my trouble and tweak, Zik, Zik!  O Thou who keenest my case, do Thou enable me escape to seek, and save me from these straits unique and be Thou ruthful to me the meek!” Thereupon quoth to him the Trap, “Thou criest out Zik!  Zik! and hast fallen into straits unique and hast strayed from the way didst seek, O Miscreant and Zindik,[FN#292] and naught shall avail thee at