Pagina 166 van 1116

When this Minister saw the King place the physician near him and

give him all these gifts, he jaloused him and planned to do him a

harm, as in the saying on such subject, "Envy lurks in every

body;" and the saying, "Oppression hideth in every heart: power

revealeth it and weakness concealeth it." Then the Minister came

before the King and, kissing the ground between his hands, said,

"O King of the age and of all time, thou in whose benefits I have

grown to manhood, I have weighty advice to offer thee, and if I

withhold it I were a son of adultery and no true born man;

wherefore an thou order me to disclose it I will so do

forthwith." Quoth the King (and he was troubled at the words of

the Minister), "And what is this counsel of thine?" Quoth he, "O

glorious monarch, the wise of old have said:-Whoso regardeth not

the end, hath not Fortune to friend; and indeed I have lately

seen the King on far other than the right way; for he lavisheth

largesse on his enemy, on one whose object is the decline and

fall of his kingship: to this man he hath shown favour, honouring

him with over honour and making of him an intimate.