Strona 306 z 1116

And on like wise saith another:-

Let Fortune have her wanton way * Take heart and all her words

obey: Nor joy nor mourn at anything * For all things pass and no

things stay.

Now when I knocked out the Wazir's eye he could not say a single

word, for that my father was King of the city; but he hated me

ever after and dire was the grudge thus caused between us twain.

So when I was set before him hand bound and pinioned, he

straightway gave orders for me to be beheaded. I asked, "For what

crime wilt thou put me to death?"; whereupon he answered, "What

crime is greater than this?" pointing the while to the place

where his eye had been Quoth I, "This I did by accident not of

malice prepense;" and quoth he, "If thou didst it by accident, I

will do the like by thee with intention."[FN#195] Then cried he,

"Bring him forward," and they brought me up to him, when he

thrust his finger into my left eye and gouged it out; whereupon I

became one eyed as ye see me.