Divji osel in lisica

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Divji osel in lisica

The vizier said, “Know, O King, that a fox used to leave his den each day and go out in search of food. One day, while he was among the mountains, nightfall overtook him, and he set out for home. He came upon another fox walking along, and each began telling the other of his adventures and the prey he had caught. One of them said, ‘Yesterday I came upon a wild ass. I was hungry, having eaten nothing for three days, so I rejoiced and thanked Almighty God for placing it in my power. Then I went straight for its heart, ate it, and had my fill. I returned to my den, and three days have passed without my finding anything to eat, yet I am still full.’ When the other fox heard this tale, he envied his companion’s full belly and said to himself, ‘I must eat the heart of a wild ass.’ So he went without food for days, until he grew emaciated and came close to death. He could no longer range far or exert himself, and lay low in his den. One day, while he was there, two hunters came walking by in search of game. They came upon a wild ass and spent the whole day pursuing it. At last one of them shot it with a barbed arrow, which pierced its belly and reached its heart, killing it just opposite the fox’s den. The hunters caught up with it and found it dead. They tried to draw out the arrow that had struck its heart, but only the shaft came away, leaving the barbed head inside the wild ass.

“When evening came, the fox emerged from his den, tormented by weakness and hunger, and saw the wild ass lying at his door. He rejoiced so greatly that he nearly—tormented by weakness and hunger, he saw the wild ass lying at his door and rejoiced so greatly that he nearly flew for joy. He said, ‘Praise be to God, who has granted my desire without any effort on my part! I had no hope of catching a wild ass, or anything else. Perhaps God has brought this one down and sent it to me here where I dwell.’ Then he sprang upon it, tore open its belly, thrust his head inside, and began nosing through its entrails until he found the heart. He seized it in his mouth and swallowed it, but as it passed into his throat, the barbs of the arrowhead caught in the bones of his neck. He could neither force it down into his belly nor draw it out of his throat, and he knew that he was doomed. Thus, O King, a man should be content with what God has allotted him, give thanks for His blessings, and never lose hope in his Lord. And you, O King, through your good intentions and your acts of kindness, have been blessed by God with a son after you had despaired of one. We pray to Almighty God to grant him long life and lasting happiness, and to make him a blessed successor who will uphold your covenant after you, when you have lived a long life.” Then the fourth vizier rose and said, “When a king is discerning and versed in the branches of wisdom…” But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When it was the nine hundred and fifth night

She said, “It has reached me, O fortunate King, that the fourth vizier rose and said, ‘When a king is discerning and versed in the branches of wisdom, law, and statecraft; when his intentions are upright and he deals justly with his subjects, honors those deserving of honor and respects those deserving of respect, pardons when he has the power to punish in matters where pardon is called for, cares for rulers and ruled alike, lightens their burdens and bestows favors upon them, conceals their faults and keeps faith with them—then he is worthy of happiness in this world and the next. These things protect him from his people and help him secure his kingdom, triumph over his enemies, and attain his hopes, while God increases His blessings upon him, enables him to give thanks, and grants him His care. But if a king behaves otherwise, he and the people of his kingdom will suffer unceasing calamities and afflictions, because he oppresses stranger and kinsman alike, and he will meet the same fate as the king’s wandering son.’ The king asked, ‘And how was that?’”