Page 192 of 1116

Next day he went up to the King's audience hall, where Emirs and

Wazirs, Chamberlains and Nabobs, Grandees and Lords of Estate

were gathered together, making the presence chamber gay as a

garden of flower beds. And lo! the physician came up and stood

before the King, bearing a worn old volume and a little etui of

metal full of powder, like that used for the eyes.[FN#100] Then

he sat down and said, "Give me a tray." So they brought him one

and he poured the powder upon it and levelled it and lastly spake

as follows: "O King, take this book but do not open it till my

head falls; then set it upon this tray, and bid press it down

upon the powder, when forthright the blood will cease flowing.

That is the time to open the book." The King thereupon took the

book and made a sign to the Sworder, who arose and struck off the

physician's head, and placing it on the middle of the tray,

pressed it down upon the powder.