lest thou come to shame and win not thy wish.”  Then he gave him muchel of wealth and wrote him letters, commending him to the father of the Princess, and despatched him to them.  When he drew near their country, the king came forth to meet him with the people of his realm and assigned him a fine lodging and bade hasten the going-in of his daughter to him, in compliance with the other king’s letter.  He also advised the Prince’s father of his son’s coming and they busied themselves with the affair of the young lady.  When it was the day of the bride’s going-in[FN#180] Bihzad, of his impetuosity and lack of patience, betook himself to the wall, which was between himself and her lodging and wherein was a hole pierced, and of his haste looked through it, so he might see his bride.  But her mother espied him[FN#181] and this was grievous to her; so she took from one of the pages two red-hot iron spits and thrust them into the hole through which the Prince was looking.  The spits ran into his eyes and put them out and he fell down fainting and the wedding-festival was changed to mourning and sore concern.  “See, then, O king” (continued the youth), “the issue of the Prince’s haste and lack of deliberation, for indeed his impatience bequeathed him long penitence and his joy turned to annoy; and on like wise was it with the woman who hastened to put out his eyes and delayed not to deliberate.  All this was the doing of haste; wherefore it behoveth the king not to be hasty in putting me to death, for that I am under the hold of his hand, and whatso time thou desirest my slaughter, it shall not escape thee.”  When the king heard this his anger subsided and he said, “Return him back to the prison till to-morrow, so we may look into his case.”

The Fifth Day.

Of the Issues of Good and Evil Actions.

When it was the fifth day, the fifth Wazir, whose name was Jahrbaur,[FN#182] came in to the king and prostrating himself before him. said, “O king, it behoveth thee, an thou see or hear one look on thy house,[FN#183] that thou pluck out his eyes.  How then should it be with him whom thou sawest a-middlemost thy palace and on thy royal bed, and he suspected with thy Harim, and not of thy lineage or of thy kindred?  So do thou away this shame by putting him to death.  Indeed, we urge thee not to this, except for the assurance of thine empire and of our zeal for thy loyal counselling and of our affection to thee.  How can it be lawful that this youth should live for a single hour?” Therewith the king was filled with fury and cried, “Bring him forthright.”  So they fetched the youth whom they set before him in fetters, and the king said to him, “Woe to thee!  Thou hast sinned a great sin and the time of thy survival hath been long;[FN#184] but needs must we put thee to death, because there is no case for us in thy life till we take it.”  Quoth the youth, “Know O king, that I, by Allah, am guiltless, and by reason of this I hope for life, for that he who is innocent of all offence goeth not in fear of pains and penalties, neither greateneth his mourning and his concern; but whoso hath sinned, needs must his sin be expiated upon him, though his life be prolonged, and it shall overtake him, even as it overtook Dadbin the king and his Wazir.”  Asked Azadbakht,"How was that?” and the youth said,"Hear, O king (whose days may Allah increase!),