Chinese and Arabian Literature - E. Wilson - The Search For Mecca

I30
ARABIAN NIGHTS
guides his elephant cries aloud, ' Behold the mighty monarch,
the powerful and valiant Sultan of the Indies, whose palace is
covered with a hundred thousand rubies, who possesses twenty
thousand diamond crowns. Behold a monarch greater than
Solomon and Mihrage in all
'
their glory !
" Then the one who stands behind the throne answers :
' This
king, so great and powerful, must die, must die, must die !
" And the first takes up the chant again, ' All praise to Him
who lives for evermore.'
" Further, my lord, in Serendib no judge is needed, for to
the King himself his people come for justice."
The Caliph was well satisfied with my report.
" From the King's letter," said he, " I judged that he was a
wise man. It seems that he is worthy of his people, and his
people of him."
So saying he dismissed me with rich presents, and I returned
in peace to my own house.
When Sindbad had done speaking his guests withdrew,
Hindbad having first received a hundred sequins, but all returned
next day to hear the story of the seventh voyage.
'