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Hereupon the Sworder stepped forward and bound the Sage Duban's

eyes and bared his blade, saying to the King, "By thy leave;"

while the physician wept and cried, "Spare me and Allah will

spare thee, and slay me not or Allah shall slay thee," and began

repeating:-

I was kind and 'scaped not, they were cruel and escaped; * And my

kindness only led me to Ruination Hall, If I live I'll ne'er be

kind; if I die, then all be damned * Who follow me, and curses

their kindliness befal.