Then, indeed, that man having advanced forward, came near the throne and kissed the foot of it, and poured forth my praise and eulogy, and said, “O king of kings, if the order for execution had not been issued in my case, I would have borne every torture, and would not have disclosed my story; but life is dear above every [consideration]; no one of his own accord jumps into a well; to preserve life, then, is right; and the abandoning of what is right is contrary to the mandates of God.  Well, if such is the royal pleasure, then be pleased to hear the past events of this feeble old man.  First, order the two cages, in which the two men are confined, to be brought and placed before your majesty.  I am going to relate my adventures; if I falsify any circumstance, then ask them to convict me, and let justice be done.”  I approved of his proposal and sent for the cages, took them both out, and made them stand near the khwaja.

The khwaja said, “O king! this man, who stands on the right hand of your slave is my eldest brother, and he who stands on my left is my second [285] brother.  I am younger than they; my father was a merchant in the kingdom of Persia, and when I was fourteen years of age, he died.  After the burial ceremony was over, and the flowers had been removed [from the corpse on the Siyum], [286] my two brothers said to me one day, ’Let us now divide our father’s wealth, whatever there is, and let each do [with his share] what he pleases.’  On hearing [this proposal], I said, O brothers! what words are these!  I am your slave, and do not claim the rights of a brother.  Our father, on the one hand, is dead, but you both are alive and in the place of that father.  I only want a dry loaf [daily] to pass through life, and to remain alert in your service.  What have I to do with shares or divisions?  I will fill my belly with your leavings, and remain near you.  I am a boy, and have not learnt even to read or write? what am I able to do?  At present do you confer instruction upon me.

“On hearing this, they replied, ’Thou wishest to ruin and beggar us also along with thyself.’  I was silent, and retired to a corner and wept; then I reasoned with myself and said, my brothers, after all, are my elders; they are reproving [me for my good, and] with a view to my education, that I may learn some [profession].  In these reflections I fell asleep.  In the morning, a messenger from the kazi came and conducted me to the court of justice; I saw that both my brothers were there in waiting.  The kazi asked me, ’Why dost not thou accept thy share of thy father’s property?’ I repeated to him what I had at home said [to my brothers].  The latter said, ’If he speaks this sentiment from his heart, then let him give us a deed of release, saying he has no claims on our father’s wealth and property.’  Even then I thought, that as they both were my elders, they advised for my good; that if I got my share of my father’s property I might improperly spend it.  So, according to their desire, I gave them a deed of release, with the kazi’s seal.  They were satisfied, and I returned home.