when he will say, ’Having made thee a king, I placed my creatures under thy care; but thou hadst no faith in my beneficence, and thou hast afflicted thy subjects [by abandoning thy charge.’] What answer will you make to this accusation?  Then even your devotion and prayers will not avail you, for the heart of man is the abode of God, and kings will have to answer only for the justice [65] of their conduct.  Pardon your slave’s want of respect, but to leave their homes, and wander from forest to forest, is the occupation of hermits, [66] but not that of kings.  You ought to act according to your allotted station:  the remembering of God, and devotion to him, are not limited to woods or mountains:  your majesty has undoubtedly heard this verse, ’God is near him, and he seeks him in the wilderness; the child is in his arms, and there is a proclamation [of its being lost] throughout the city.’

“If you will be pleased to act impartially, and follow this slave’s advice, in that case the best thing is, that your Majesty should keep God in mind every moment, and offer up to him your prayers.  No one has yet returned hopeless from his threshold.  In the day, arrange the affairs of state, and administer justice to the poor and injured; then the creatures of God will repose in peace and comfort under the skirt of your prosperity.  Pray at night; and after beseeching blessings for the pure spirit of the Prophet, solicit assistance from recluse Darweshes and holy men, [who are abstracted from worldly objects and cares;] bestow daily food on orphans, prisoners, poor parents of numerous children, and helpless widows.  From the blessings of these good works and benevolent intentions, if God please, it is to be fervently hoped that the objects and desires of your heart will all be fulfilled, and the circumstances for which the royal mind is afflicted, will likewise be accomplished, and your noble heart will rejoice!  Look towards the favour of God, for he can in a moment do what he wishes.”  At length, from such various representations on the part of Khiradmand the Wazir, Azad Bakht’s heart took courage, and he said, “Well, what you say is true; let us see to this also; and hereafter, the will of God be done.”

When the king’s mind was comforted, he asked the Wazir what the other nobles and ministers were doing, and how they were.  He replied, that “all the pillars of state are praying for the life and prosperity of your majesty; and from grief for your situation, they are all in confusion and dejected.  Show the royal countenance to them, that they may be easy in their minds.  Accordingly, they are now waiting in the Diwani Amm.”  On hearing this, the king said, “If God please, I will hold a court to-morrow:  tell them all to attend.” Khiradmand was quite rejoiced on hearing this promise, and lifting up his hands, blessed the king, saying, “As long as this earth and heaven exist, may your majesty’s crown and