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Then the Chief banished him from Baghdad; and my brother fared

forth at a venture, till he came to a great town, where he

thought it best to set up as a cobbler; so he opened a shop and

sat there doing what he could for his livelihood. One day, as he

went forth on his business, he heard the distant tramp of horses

and, asking the cause, was told that the King was going out to

hunt and course; so my brother stopped to look at the fine suite.

It so fortuned that the King's eye met my brother's; whereupon

the King hung down his head and said, "I seek refuge with Allah

from the evil of this day!";[FN#658] and turned the reins of his

steed and returned home with all his retinue. Then he gave orders

to his guards, who seized my brother and beat him with a beating

so painful that he was well nigh dead; and my brother knew not

what could be the cause of his maltreatment, after which he

returned to his place in sorriest plight.