t to death. At all these circumstances I was
surprised, that without any inquiry your majesty should, on the tale
of an idle fellow, order people to be put to death. God in reality
knows what is the merchant's real case; call him before the royal
presence and inquire into his antecedents; if he should be found
guilty, then your majesty is master; whatever treatment you please,
that you can administer to him.

When the ambassador thus explained [the matter to me], I also
recollected what the _wazir_ had said, and ordered the merchant,
together with his son, the dog, and the cages, to be brought in my
presence immediately. The messengers set off quickly [on the errand],
and in a short time brought them all. I summoned them before me. First
came the _khwaja_ and his son [the young merchant], both richly
dressed. All present were astonished and bewildered on beholding the
young merchant's extreme beauty; he brought in his hand a golden
tray, loaded with precious stones, (the brilliancy of every one
of which illuminated the room,) and laid it before my throne, made
his obeisance and stood [in respectful silence]. The _khwaja_ also
kissed the ground, and offered up his prayers [for my prosperity];
he spoke with such sweet modulation, as if he were the nightingale
of a thousand melodies. I greatly admired his elegant and decorous
speech; but, assuming a face of anger, I exclaimed, "O, you Satan
in human form! what net is this that thou hast spread, and in thine
own path what pit hast thou dug? What is thy religion, and what rite
is this I see? Of what prophet's sect are thou a follower? If thou
wast an infidel, even then what sense is there in thy conduct? what
is thy name, that thou actest thus?

The _khwaja_ calmly replied, "May your majesty's years and prosperity
ever increase; this slave's religious creed is this, that God is one:
he has no equal, and I repeat the confession of faith of _Muhammad_
the pure (the mercy of God be shown to him and his posterity; may he
be safe!) After him, I consider the twelve _Imams_ as my guides; and
my rite is this, that I say the five regulated prayers and I observe
fasts, and I have likewise performed the pilgrimage, and from my
wealth, I give the fifth in alms, and I am called a _Musalman_. But
there is a reason, which I cannot disclose, that I appear to possess
all those bad qualities which have raised your majesty's indignation,
and for which I am condemned by every one of God's c