ties and look to that which is
committed to thee of the rule of thy folk and the maintenance of the
order of thy realm, so that none may see fault in thee.” The King asked,
“What wouldst thou have me do?” And Shimas answered, “To-morrow, an thou
be well and in good case,[147] give the folk leave to come in to thee
and look into their affairs and excuse thyself to them and promise them
of thine own accord good governance and prosperity.” Quoth the King, “O
Shimas, thou hast spoken sensibly and rightly; and to-morrow, Inshallah,
I will do that which thou counsellest me.” So the Wazir went out from
him and told the lieges all he had said to him; and, when morning
morrowed, the King came forth of his privacy and bade admit the people,
to whom he excused himself, promising them that thenceforward he would
deal with them as they wished, wherewith they were content and departed
each to his own dwelling.[148] Then one of the King’s wives, who was his
best-beloved of them and most in honour with him, visited him and seeing
him changed of colour and thoughtful over his affairs, by reason of that
which he had heard from his chief Wazir, said to him, “O King, how is it
that I see thee troubled in mind? Hast thou aught to complain of?”
Answered he, “No: but my pleasures have distracted me from my duties.
What right have I to be thus negligent of my affairs and those of my
subjects? If I continue on this wise, soon, very soon, the kingdom will
pass out of my hand.” She rejoined, “I see, O King, that thou hast been
duped by the Wazirs and Ministers, who wish but to torment and entrap
thee, so thou mayst have no joyance of this thy kingship neither feel
ease nor taste delight; nay, they would have thee consume thy life in
warding off trouble from them, till thy days be wasted in travail and
weariness and thou be as one who slayeth himself for the benefit of
another or like the Boy and the Thieves.” Asked the King, “How was
that?” and she answered, “They tell the following tale anent


          