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a thing I have a mind to do.’ ‘Whatever thou hast a mind to do,’ replied Faris, ‘do it; for thy judgment is blessed.’ So the king said, ‘O vizier, I am become a very old and decrepit man, sore stricken in years, and I am minded to take up my abode in an oratory, that I may worship God the Most High, and give my kingdom and sultanate to my son Seif el Mulouk, for that he is grown a goodly youth, accomplished in martial exercises and polite letters and the art of government and full of wit and dignity. What sayst thou of this project?’
‘It is well seen of thee,’ answered the vizier. ‘The idea is a blessed and fortunate one, and if thou do this, I will do the like and my son Saïd shall be the prince’s vizier, for he is a comely young man and full of knowledge and judgment. Thus will the two be together, and we will order their affair and neglect not their case, but guide them in the way of righteousness.’ Quoth the king, ‘Write letters and send them by runners to all the cities and provinces and strengths and fortresses, that be under our hands, bidding their chiefs be present on such a day at the Horse-course of the Elephant.’ So the vizier went out forthright and despatched letters to this purport to all the deputies and governors of fortresses and others [in authority] under King Aasim; and he commanded also that all in the city should be present, great and small.
When the appointed time drew near, King Aasim let pitch pavilions in the midst of the Horse-course and decorate them after the most sumptuous fashion and set up [therein] the great throne whereon he sat not but on festivals. Then he and all his deputies and chamberlains and amirs sallied forth, and he commanded proclamation to be made to the people, saying, ‘In the name of God, come forth to the Horse-course!’ So all the amirs and viziers and governors of provinces and feudatories came forth to the place of assembly and entering the royal
