The story of the Grecian king, and the physician Douban.

There was in the country of Zouman, in Persia, a king whose subjects were originally Greeks.  This king was all over leprous, and his physicians in vain endeavoured his cure; and when they were at their wits end what to prescribe him, a very able physician, called Douban, arrived at his court.

This physician had learned his science in Greek, Persian, Turkish, Arabian, Latin, Syrian, and Hebrew books; and, besides that he was an expert philosopher, he fully understood the good and bad qualities of all sorts of plants and drugs.  As soon as he was informed of the king’s distemper, and understood that his physicians had given him over, he clad himself the best he could, and found a way to present himself to the king:  Sir, says he, I know that all your majesty’s physicians have not been able to cure you of the leprosy; but if you will do me the honour to accept my service, I will engage myself to cure you without drenches or external applications.

The king listened to what he said, and answered, if you are able to perform what you promise, I will enrich you and your posterity; and, besides the presents I shall make you, you shall be my chief favourite.  Do you assure me, then, that you will cure me of my leprosy, without making me take any potion, or applying any external medicine?  Yes, sir, replies the physician, I promise myself success, through God’s assistance, and to-morrow I will make trial of it.

The physician returned to his quarters, and made a mallet, hollow within, and at the handle he put in his drugs:  He made also a ball in such a manner as suited his purpose, with which, next morning, he went to present himself before the king, and, falling down at his feet, kissed the very ground.  Here Scheherazade, perceiving day, acquainted the sultan with it, and held her peace.

I wonder, sister, says Dinarzade, where you learn so many things.  You will hear a great many others to-morrow, re-* 045.txt---------------------------- plies Scheherazade, if the sultan, my master, will be pleased to prolong my life further, Schahriar, who longed as much as Dinarzade to hear the sequel of the story of Douban the physician, did not order the sultaness to be put to death that day.

 The twelfth night.

The twelfth night was pretty far advanced, when Dinarzade called, and says, Sister, you owe us the continuation of the agreeable history of the Grecian king and the physician Douban.  I am very willing to pay my debt, replies Scheherazade, and resumed the story as follows.