and if the king slay him not, let him banish him his realm, that the tongue of the folk may desist from him.”  When the king heard his Ministers’ words, he was wroth with exceeding wrath and bade bring the youth, and when he came in to the king, the Wazirs all cried out with one voice, saying, “O Lack-wits, thinkest thou to save thyself from slaughter by guile and sleight, that thou wilest the king with thy talk and hopest pardon for the like of this mighty great crime thou hast committed?” Then the king bade fetch the sworder, so he might smite his neck; whereupon each of the Wazirs fell to saying, “I will slay him;” and they sprang upon him.  Quoth the youth, “O king, consider and ponder the eagerness of these thy Ministers.  Is this of envy or is it not?  They would fain make severance between me and thee, so there may fall to them what they shall plunder, as aforetime.”  And the king said to him, “Consider their witness against thee.”  The young man said, “O king, how shall they testify of that which they saw not?[FN#209] This is but envy and despight; and thou, an thou slay me, wilt indeed regret me, and I fear lest there betide thee of repentance that which betided Aylan Shah, by reason of the malice of his Wazirs.”  Asked Azadbakht, “And what is his story?” and the youth answered, “Hear, O king,

The Story of Aylan Shah and Abu Tammam.[FN#210]

Whilome there was a merchant named Abu Tammam, and he was a clever man and a well-bred, quickwitted and truthful in all his affairs, and he was monied to boot.  Now there was in his land a king as unjust as he was jealous, and Abu Tammam feared for his wealth from this king and said, “I will remove hence to another place where I shall not be in dread.”  So he made for the city of Aylan Shah and built himself a palace therein and transporting his wealth thither, took up his abode there.  Presently, the news of him reached King Aylan Shah; so he sent to invite him to his presence and said to him, “We know of thy coming to us and thine entering under our allegiance, and indeed we have heard of thine excellence and wit and generosity; so welcome to thee and fair welcome!  The land is thy land and at thy command, and whatsoever need thou needest of us, ’tis already accomplished to thee; and it behoveth that thou be near our person and of our assembly.”  Abu Tammam prostrated himself before the king, and said to him, “O king, I will serve thee with my monies and with my life, but do thou excuse me from nearness to thee, for that an I took office about thee, I should not be safe from enemies and enviers.”  Then he applied himself to the royal service with presents and largesses, and the king saw him to be intelligent, well-bred and of good counsel; so his heart inclined to him and he committed to him the ordinance of his affairs and the power to bind and to loose was in his hand.  Now Aylan Shah had three Wazirs, in whose hands public affairs were wont to be and they had been accustomed not to quit the king night or day;