Why am I thus the sport of all—­
     A thing Fate knocketh like a ball
     From point to point of evil chance,
     Even as the sneer of Circumstance? 
     While thirsting for the highest fame,
      I hunger like the lowest beast: 
     To be the first of men I aim
      And find myself the least.

Now, the Vizier delayed not when he heard this to have a fair supply set before Shibli Bagarag, and meats dressed in divers fashions, spiced, and coloured, and with herbs, and wines in golden goblets, and slaves in attendance.  So Shibli Bagarag ate and drank, and presently his soul arose from its prostration, and he cried, ’Wullahy! the head cook of King Shamshureen could have worked no better as regards the restorative process.’

Then said the Chief Vizier, ‘O Shibli Bagarag, where now is thy tackle?’

And Shibli Bagarag winked and nodded and turned his head in the manner of the knowing ones, and he recited the verse: 

     ’Tis well that we are sometimes circumspect,
      And hold ourselves in witless ways deterred: 
     One thwacking made me seriously reflect;
      A second turned the cream of love to curd: 
     Most surely that profession I reject
      Before the fear of a prospective third.

So the Vizier said, ‘’Tis well, thou turnest verse neatly’ And he exclaimed extemporaneously: 

   If thou wouldst have thy achievement as high

     As the wings of Ambition can fly: 
   If thou the clear summit of hope wouldst attain,
     And not have thy labour in vain;
   Be steadfast in that which impell’d, for the peace
     Of earth he who leaves must have trust: 
   He is safe while he soars, but when faith shall cease,
     Desponding he drops to the dust.

Then said he, ’Fear no further thwacking, but honour and prosperity in the place of it.  What says the poet?—­

     “We faint, when for the fire
      There needs one spark;
     We droop, when our desire
      Is near its mark.”

How near to it art thou, O Shibli Bagarag!  Know, then, that among this people there is great reverence for the growing of hair, and he that is hairiest is honoured most, wherefore are barbers creatures of especial abhorrence, and of a surety flourish not.  And so it is that I owe my station to the esteem I profess for the cultivation of hair, and to my persecution of the clippers of it.  And in this kingdom is no one that beareth such a crop as I, saving one, a clothier, an accursed one!—­and may a blight fall upon him for his vanity and his affectation of solemn priestliness, and his lolling in his shop-front to be admired and marvelled at by the people.  So this fellow I would disgrace and bring to scorn,—­this Shagpat! for he is mine enemy, and the eye of the King my master is on him.  Now I conceive thy assistance in this matter, Shibli Bagarag,—­thou, a barber.’