The next morning when he arose, he perceived with equal wonder and joy, that his leprosy was cured, and his body as clean as if it had never been affected.  As soon as he was dressed, he came into the hall of audience, where he ascended his throne, and shewed himself to his courtiers:  who, eager to know the success of the new medicine, came thither betimes, and when they saw the king perfectly cured, expressed great joy.  The physician Douban entering the hall, bowed himself before the throne, with his face to the ground.  The king perceiving him, made him sit down by his side, presented him to the assembly, and gave him all the commendation he deserved.  His majesty did not stop here:  but as he treated all his court that day, made him eat at his table alone with him.

The Grecian king was not satisfied with having admitted the physician Douban to his table, but caused him to be clad in a rich robe, ordered him two thousand pieces of gold, and thinking that he could never sufficiently acknowledge his obligations to him, continued every day to load him with new favours.  But this king had a vizier, who was avaricious, envious, and naturally capable of every kind of mischief.  He could not behold without envy the presents that were given to the physician, whose other merits had already begun to make him jealous, and he therefore resolved to lessen him in the king’s esteem.  To effect this, he went to the king, and told him in private, that he had some information of the greatest consequence to communicate.  The king having asked what it was?  “Sire,” said he, “it is highly dangerous for a monarch to confide in a man whose fidelity he has never tried.  Though you heap favours upon the physician Douban, your majesty does not know that he is a traitor, sent by your enemies to take away your life.”  “From whom,” demanded the king, “have you the suggestion which you dare pronounce?  Consider to whom you are speaking, and that you are advancing what I shall not easily believe.”  “Sire,” replied the vizier, “I am well informed of what I have had the honour to reveal to your majesty; therefore do not rest in dangerous security:  if your majesty be asleep, be pleased to awake; for I once more repeat, that the physician Douban left his native country, and came to settle himself at your court, for the sole purpose of executing the horrible design which I have intimated.”

“No, no, vizier,” interrupted the king; “I am certain, that this physician, whom you suspect to be a villain and a traitor, is one of the best and most virtuous of men.  You know by what medicine, or rather by what miracle, he cured me of my leprosy:  If he had had a design upon my life, why did he save me then?  He needed only to have left me to my disease; I could not have escaped it, as life was fast decaying.  Forbear then to fill me with unjust suspicions:  instead of listening to you, I tell you, that from this day forward I will give that great man a pension of a thousand pieces of gold per month for his life; nay, though I were to share with him all my riches and dominions, I should never pay him sufficiently for what he has done.  I perceive it to be his virtue that raises your envy; but do not think I will be unjustly prejudiced against him.  I remember too well what a vizier said to king Sinbad, his master, to prevent his putting to death the prince his son.”