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should be his slaves; but thou art become a slave to thy subjects, for that thou standest in awe of them and fearest their mischief. They do but seek to make proof of thy temper; and if they find thee weak, they will disdain thee; but, if they find thee stout and brave, they will stand in awe of thee. On this wise do ill viziers with their king, for that their wiles are many; but I will make manifest unto thee the truth of their malice. If thou fall in with their demands, they will cause thee leave thy commandment and do their will; nor will they cease to lead thee on from affair to affair, till they cast thee into destruction; and thy case will be as that of the merchant and the thieves.’ ‘How was that?’ asked the king; and she answered, ‘I have heard tell that
THE MERCHANT AND THE THIEVES.
There was once a wealthy merchant, who set out for a certain city with merchandise, purposing to sell it there, and when he came thither, he hired a lodging there and took up his abode therein. Now certain thieves saw him, who were wont to lie in wait for merchants, that they might steal their goods; so they went to his house and cast about to enter in, but could find no way thereto, and their captain said, “I will accomplish you his affair.” Then he went away and donning a physician’s habit, threw over his shoulder a bag containing medicines, with which he set out, crying, “Who lacks a doctor?” and fared on till he came to the merchant’s lodging and saw him sitting eating the morning meal. So he said to him, “Dost thou want a physician?” “Not I,” answered the merchant; “but sit and eat with me.” So the thief sat down over against him and began to eat.
