Know, O you Ifrit, that long ago and in ages long gone before, a King called Yunan reigned over the city of Fars of the land of the Roum. He was a powerful ruler and a wealthy one, who had armies and guards and allies of all nations of men; but his body was afflicted with a leprosy which physicians and men of science failed to heal. He drank potions and he swallowed powders and he used unguents, but nothing helped him, and none among the host of physicians could procure him a cure. At last there came to his city a mighty healer of men and one well advanced in years, the sage Duban by name. This man was a reader of books—Greek, Persian, Roman, Arabian, and Syrian; and he was skilled in astronomy and in leechcraft, both theory and practice; he was experienced in all that heals and all that harms the body; conversant with the virtues of every plant, grass, and herb, and their benefits and dangers; and he understood philosophy and had mastered the whole range of medical science and other branches of the knowledge tree. Now this physician spent but a few days in the city before he heard of the King's malady and all his bodily sufferings through the leprosy with which Allah had afflicted him; and how all the doctors and wise men had failed to heal him. Upon this he sat up through the night in deep thought and, when the dawn broke and the morn appeared, and light was born again, and the Sun greeted the Good whose beauties adorn the world, he donned his handsomest dress and went in to King Yunan, kissed the ground before him, and then prayed for the endurance of his honour and prosperity in fairest language and made himself known, saying, "O King, tidings have reached me of what befell you through that which is in your person; and how the host of physicians have proved themselves unable to help it; and lo! I can cure you, O King; and yet will I not make you drink of draught or anoint you with ointment."

Now when King Yunan heard his words he said in great surprise, "How will you do this? By God, if you make me whole I will enrich you even to your son's son and I will give you sumptuous gifts; and whatever you wish shall be yours and you shall be to me a cup companion and a friend." The King then robed him with a dress of honour and entreated him graciously and asked him, "Can you indeed cure me of this complaint without drug and unguent?" and he answered, "Yes! I will heal you without the pains and penalties of medicine." The King marvelled greatly and said, "O physician, when shall this be of which you speak, and in how many days shall it take place? Make haste, O my son!" He replied, "I hear and I obey; the cure shall begin tomorrow." So saying he went forth from the presence and hired himself a house in the city for better storage of his books and scrolls, his medicines and his aromatic roots. Then he set to work choosing the finest drugs and simples and he fashioned a bat hollow within and furnished with a handle without, for which he made a ball; the two being prepared with consummate art. On the next day when both were ready for use and wanted nothing more, he went up to the King; and, kissing the ground between his hands, asked him to ride forth on the parade ground to play at pall and mall. He was accompanied by his suite—Emirs and Chamberlains, Wazirs and Lords of the realm—and before he was seated, the sage Duban came up to him and, handing him the bat, said, "Take this mall and grip it as I do; so! And now push for the plain and, leaning well over your horse, drive the ball with all your might until your palm grows moist and your body perspires: then the medicine will penetrate through your palm and will permeate your person.

When you have done with playing and you feel the effects of the medicine, return to your palace, and make the ablution in the Hammam bath, and lie down to sleep; so shall you be made whole; and now peace be with you!" Thereupon King Yunan took the bat from the Sage and grasped it firmly; then, mounting his steed, he drove the ball before him and galloped after it until he reached it, when he struck it with all his might, his palm gripping the bat handle the while; and he did not stop striking the ball until his hand grew moist and his skin, perspiring, absorbed the medicine from the wood. Then the sage Duban knew that the drugs had penetrated his person and bade him return to the palace and enter the Hammam without delay; so King Yunan directly returned and ordered them to clear the bath for him. They did so, the carpet spreaders making all haste, and the slaves hurrying to get ready a change of raiment for the King. He entered the bath and made a thorough ablution; then donned his clothes within the Hammam and rode from it to his palace where he lay down and slept. Such was the case with King Yunan, but as regards the sage Duban, he returned home and slept as usual; and when morning dawned he made his way to the palace and asked for audience. The King ordered him to be admitted; then, having kissed the ground between his hands, in honour of the King he recited these couplets with solemn intonation:—

Happy is Eloquence when you are named her sire But mourns she when another man the title claimed. O Lord of fairest presence, whose illumining rays Clear off the fogs of doubt, aye veiling deeds high famed, Never cease your face to shine like Dawn and rise of Morn And never show Time's face with heat of ire inflamed! Your grace has favoured us with gifts that wrought such wise As rain clouds raining on the hills by wolds enframed: Freely you lavished your wealth to rise on high Till won from Time the heights at which your grandeur aimed.

Now when the Sage ceased reciting, the King rose quickly to his feet and fell on his neck; then, seating him by his side, he had him dressed in a sumptuous robe; for it had so happened that when the King left the Hammam he looked on his body and saw no trace of leprosy: the skin was all clean as virgin silver. He rejoiced at this with exceeding joy, his breast broadened with delight and he felt thoroughly happy. Presently, when it was full day he entered his audience hall and sat upon the throne of his kingship whereupon his Chamberlains and Grandees flocked to the presence and with them the Sage Duban. Seeing the physician, the King rose to him in honour and seated him by his side; then the food trays furnished with the daintiest viands were brought and the physician ate with the King, nor did he cease accompanying him all that day. Moreover, at nightfall he gave the physician Duban two thousand gold pieces, besides the usual dress of honour and other gifts galore, and sent him home on his own steed. After the Sage had departed, King Yunan again expressed his amazement at the physician's art, saying, "This man cured my body from without, nor anointed me with ointments: By God, surely this is none other than consummate skill! I am bound to honour such a man with rewards and distinction, and take him as my companion and my friend for the remainder of my days."

So King Yunan passed the night in joy and gladness for that his body had been made whole and had thrown off so pernicious a malady. On the morrow the King went forth from his palace and sat upon his throne, and the Lords of Estate stood about him, and the Emirs and Wazirs sat as was their custom on his right hand and on his left. Then he asked for the Sage Duban, who came in and kissed the ground before him, when the King rose to greet him and, seating him by his side, ate with him and wished him long life. Moreover he robed him and gave him gifts, and did not cease conversing with him until night approached. Then the King ordered him, by way of salary, five dresses of honour and a thousand dinars. The physician returned to his own house full of gratitude to the King. Now when next morning dawned the King made his way to his audience hall, and his Lords and Nobles surrounded him and his Chamberlains and his Ministers, as the white encircles the black of the eye. Now the King had a Wazir among his Wazirs, unsightly to look upon, an ill-omened spectacle; sordid, ungenerous, full of envy and evil will.

When this Minister saw the King place the physician near him and give him all these gifts, he became jealous of him and planned to do him harm, as in the saying on such a subject, "Envy lurks in every breast;" and as the saying goes, "Oppression hides in every heart: power reveals it and weakness conceals it." Then the Minister came before the King and, kissing the ground between his hands, said, "O King of the age and of all time, you in whose benefits I have grown to manhood, I have weighty advice to offer you, and if I withhold it I would be a man of no honour; wherefore, if you order me to disclose it I will do so at once." Quoth the King (and he was troubled at the words of the Minister), "And what is this counsel of yours?" He said, "O glorious monarch, the wise of old have said:—'Whoever regards not the end, has not Fortune as friend;' and indeed I have lately seen the King on far other than the right way; for he lavishes largesse on his enemy, on one whose object is the decline and fall of his kingship: to this man he has shown favour, honouring him with over honour and making of him an intimate. Wherefore I fear for the King's life."

The King, who was much troubled and changed colour, asked, "Whom do you suspect and about whom do you hint?" and the Minister answered, "O King, if you be asleep, wake up! I point to the physician Duban." Rejoined the King, "Shame on you! This is a true friend who is favoured by me above all men, because he cured me with something which I held in my hand, and he healed my leprosy which had baffled all physicians; indeed he is one whose like may not be found in these days—no, not in the whole world from furthest east to utmost west! And it is of such a man that you say such hard things. Now from this day forward I grant him a settled salary and allowances, every month a thousand gold pieces; and, were I to share with him my realm it would be but a small matter. Perforce I must suspect that you speak in this way from mere envy and jealousy as they relate of King Sindbad."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her permitted say. Then Dunyazad said, "O my sister, how pleasant is your tale, and how tasteful, how sweet, and how grateful!"

She replied, "And where is this compared with what I could tell you on the coming night if the King deign spare my life?" Then said the King to himself, "By God, I will not slay her until I hear the rest of her tale, for truly it is wondrous." So they rested that night in mutual embrace until the dawn. Then the King went forth to his Hall of Rule, and the Wazir and the troops came in, and the audience chamber was thronged; and the King gave orders and judged and appointed and deposed and bade and forbade during the rest of that day till the Court broke up, and King Shahryar returned to his palace.

When it was the Fifth night

Her sister said, "Will you finish your story for us if you be not sleepy?" and she resumed:—It has reached me, O auspicious King and mighty Monarch, that King Yunan said to his Minister, "O Wazir, you are one whom the evil spirit of envy has possessed because of this physician, and you plot for my putting him to death, after which I should repent me full sorely, even as repented King Sindbad for killing his falcon." Quoth the Wazir, "Pardon me, O King of the age, how was that?" So the King began the story of