Pagina 514 di 1116

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph

swore he would hang none but the slave, for the youth was

excusable. Then he turned to Ja'afar and said to him, "Bring

before me this accursed slave who was the sole cause of this

calamity; and, if thou bring him not before me within three days,

thou shalt be slain in his stead." So Ja'afar fared forth weeping

and saying. "Two deaths have already beset me, nor shall the

crock come of safe from every shock.' [FN#360] In this matter

craft and cunning are of no avail; but He who preserved my life

the first time can preserve it a second time. By Allah, I will

not leave my house during the three days of life which remain to

me and let the Truth (whose perfection be praised!) do e'en as He

will." So he kept his house three days, and on the fourth day he

summoned the Kazis and legal witnesses and made his last will and

testament, and took leave of his children weeping.