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They relate, O King of the age and lord of the time and of these

days, that the Caliph Harun al-Rashid summoned his Wazir Ja'afar

one night and said to him, 'I desire to go down into the city and

question the common folk concerning the conduct of those charged

with its governance; and those of whom they complain we will

depose from office and those whom they commend we will promote."

Quoth Ja'afar, "Hearkening and obedience!" So the Caliph went

down with Ja'afar and Eunuch Masrur to the town and walked about

the streets and markets and, as they were threading a narrow

alley, they came upon a very old man with a fishing-net and crate

to carry small fish on his head, and in his hand a staff; and, as

he walked at a leisurely pace, he repeated these lines:-