Now, marking him contemplative, one of the youths shouted, ’The King lacketh homage!’

And another called, ‘Admittance for his people!’

Then the seven arose and placed Shibli Bagarag on an elevation in the midst of them, and lo! a troop of black slaves leading by the collar, asses, and by a string, monkeys.  Now, for the asses they brayed to the Evil One, and the monkeys were prankish, pulling against the string, till they caught sight of Shibli Bagarag.  Then was it as if they had been awestricken; and they came forward to him with docile steps, eyeing the crown on his head, and prostrated themselves, the asses and the monkeys, like creatures in whom glowed the lamp of reason and the gift of intelligence.  So Shibli Bagarag drooped his jaw and was ashamed, and he cried, ‘my princes! am I a King of these?’

They answered, ‘A King in mightiness!  Sultan of a race!’

So he said, ’It is certain I shall need physic to support such a sovereignty!  And I must be excused liberal allowances of old wine to sit in state among them.  Wullahy! they were best gone for awhile.  Send them from me, O my princes!  I sicken.’

And he called to the animals, ‘Away! begone!’ frowning.

Then said the youths, ’Well commanded! and like a King!  See, they troop from thy presence obediently.’

Now the animals fled from before the brows of Shibli Bagarag, and when the chamber was empty of them the seven young men said, ’Of a surety thou wert flattered to observe the aspect of these animals at beholding thee.’

But he cried, ’Not so, O my princes; there is nought flattering in the homage of asses and monkeys.’

Then they said, ’O Sultan of asses, ruler of monkeys, better that than thyself an ass and an ape!  As was said by Shah Kasirwan, “I prefer being king of beasts worshipped by beasts, rather than a crowned beast worshipped by men”; and it was well said.  Wullahy! the kings of Roum quote it.’

Now Shibli Bagarag was not rendered oblivious of the Sword of his quest by the humour of these youths, or the wine-bibbings, and he exclaimed while they were turning up the heels of their cups, ’O ye sons of Aklis, know that I have come hither for the Sword sharpened by your hands, for the releasing of my betrothed, Noorna bin Noorka, daughter of the Vizier Feshnavat, and for the shaving of Shagpat.’

While he was proceeding to recount the story of his search for the Sword, they said, ’Enough, O potentate of the braying class and of the scratching tribe! we have seen thee through the eye of Aklis since the time of thy first thwacking.  What says the poet?

         “A day for toil and a day for rest
          Gives labour zeal, and pleasure zest.”

So, of thy seeking let us hear to-morrow; but now drink with us, and make merry, and touch the springs of memory; spout forth verses, quaint ones, suitable to the hour and the entertainment.  Wullahy! drink with us! taste life!  Let the humours flow.’