The king marvelled at what he saw and questioned him of [how he came by] the knowledge of this.  ‘O king,’ answered the old man, ’this [kind of] jewel is engendered in the belly of a creature called the oyster and its origin is a drop of rain and it is firm to the touch [and groweth not warm, when held in the hand]; so, when [I took the second pearl and felt that] it was warm to the touch, I knew that it harboured some living thing, for that live things thrive not but in heat.’[FN#209] So the king said to the cook, ‘Increase his allowance.’  And he appointed to him [fresh] allowances.

Awhile after this, two merchants presented themselves to the king with two horses, and one said, ’I ask a thousand dinars for my horse,’ and the other, ‘I seek five thousand for mine.’  Quoth the cook, ’We have experienced the old man’s just judgment; what deemeth the king of fetching him?’ So the king bade fetch him, and when he saw the two horses, he said, ’This one is worth a thousand and the other two thousand dinars.’  Quoth the folk, ’This [horse that thou judgeth the lesser worth] is an evident thoroughbred and he is younger and swifter and more compact of limb than the other, ay, and finer of head and clearer of skin and colour.  What token, then, hast thou of the truth of thy saying?’ And the old man said, ’This ye say is all true, but his sire is old and this other is the son of a young horse.  Now, when the son of an old horse standeth still [to rest,] his breath returneth not to him and his rider falleth into the hand of him who followeth after him; but the son of a young horse, if thou put him to speed and make him run, [then check him] and alight from off him, thou wilt find him untired, by reason of his robustness.’

Quoth the merchant, ’Indeed, it is as the old man avoucheth and he is an excellent judge.’  And the king said, ’Increase his allowance.’  But the old man stood still and did not go away.  So the king said to him, ‘Why dost thou not go about thy business?’ And he answered, ‘My business is with the king.’  ’Name what thou wouldst have,’ said the king, and the other replied, ’I would have thee question me of the quintessences of men, even as thou hast questioned me of the quintessences of horses.’  Quoth the king, ‘We have no occasion to question thee of [this].’  But the old man replied, ‘I have occasion to acquaint thee.’  ’Say what thou pleasest,’ rejoined the king, and the old man said, ’Verily, the king is the son of a baker.’  Quoth the king ’How knowest thou that?’ And the other replied, ’Know, O king, that I have examined into degrees and dignities[FN#210] and have learnt this.’