My friend listened to this speech; he got into a passion, cavilled at my fable, and began to question it with warmth and asperity, saying, “What wisdom or propriety, good sense or morality, is there in this?  Here is verified that maxim of the sage, which tells us they are friends alone that can serve us in a jail, for all our enemies may pretend friendship at our own table.—­’Esteem him not a friend who during thy prosperity will brag of his love and brotherly affection.’  I account him a friend who will take his friend by the hand when struggling with despair, and overwhelmed with misfortune.”

I perceived within myself, saying, “He is disturbed, and listens to my advice with impatience;” and, having called the sahib diwan, or lord high treasurer, in virtue of a former intimacy that subsisted between us, I stated his case and spoke so fully upon his skill and merits, that he put him in nomination for a trifling office.  After some time, having adverted to his kindly disposition and approved of his good management, his promotion was in train, and he got confirmed in a much higher station.  Thus was the star of his good fortune in ascension, till it rose into the zenith of ambition; and he became the favorite of his majesty the king, towards whom all turned for counsel, and upon whom all eyes rested their hopes!  I rejoiced at this prosperous change of his affairs, and said:—­“Repine not at thy bankrupt circumstances, nor let thy heart despond, for the fountain of immortality has its source of chaos.—­Take heed, O brother in affliction! and be not disheartened, for God has in store many hidden mercies.—­Sit not down soured at the revolutions of the times, for patience is bitter, yet it will yield sweet fruit.”

At that juncture I happened to accompany a party of friends on a journey to Hijaz, or Arabia Petraea.  On my return from the pilgrimage to Mecca, he came out two stages to meet me.  I perceived that his outward plight was wretched, and his garb that of dervishes.  I asked, “How is this?” He replied, “Just as you said, a faction bore me a grudge and charged me with malpractices; and the king, be his reign eternal, would not investigate the truth of that charge, and my old and best friends stood aloof from my defence, and overlooked my claims on our former acquaintance.—­When, through an act of God, a man has fallen, the whole world will put their feet upon his neck; when they see that fortune has taken him by the hand, they will put their hands upon their breasts, and be loud in his praise.—­In short, I underwent all manner of persecution till within this week, that the tidings of the safe return of the pilgrims reached us, when I got a release from my heavy durance and a confiscation of my hereditary tenements.”  I said, “At that time you did not listen to my admonition, when I warned you that the service of princes is, like a voyage at sea, profitable but hazardous:  you either get a treasure or perish miserably.—­The