When separation is to us by destiny decreed And 'gainst the cruel chance of Fate our efforts are in vain，Unto the inkhorn's mouth we fly thatby the tongues of pensOf parting and its bitterness it may for us complain.
And in a large formal hand the following：
The regal state endureth not to any mortal man. If thou deny thiswhere is he who first on earth held sway？
Plant therefore saplings of good deedswhilst that thou yet art great Though thou be ousted from thy steadthey shall not pass away.
And in a court hand the following：
When thou the inkhorn op'st of power and lordship over menMake thou thine ink of noble thoughts and generous purpose；then Write gracious deeds and good therewithwhilst that thy power endures. So shall thy virtues blazoned be at point of sword and pen.
Then I gave the scroll to the officerswho took it and returned with it to the King. When he saw itno writing pleased him but mine；so he said to his officers'Go to the writer of these lines and dress him in a splendid robe；then mount him on a mule and bring him to me with a band of music before him.'At this they smiledand the King was wroth with them and said'O accursed onesI give you an orderand ye laugh at me！'
King，'answered they'we have good cause to laugh.'Quoth he，'What is it？'And they replied'O Kingthou orderest us to bring thee the man who wrote these lines： now he who wrote them is no manbut an ape belonging to the captain of the ship.'
'Can this be true？'asked he；and they said'Yeaby thy munificence！'The King was astonished at their report and shook with mirth and said'I have a mind to buy this ape of the captain.'Then he sent messengers to the ship and said to them，'Dress him none the less in the robe and mount him on the mule and bring him hither in statewith the band of music before him.'So they came to the ship and took me and clad me in the robe and mounted me on the mule and carried me in procession through the city；whilst the people were astounded and crowded to gaze upon meand the place was all astir on my account. When I reached the King's presenceI kissed the earth before him three timesand he bade me be seated；so I sat down on my heels；and all the bystanders marvelled at my good mannersand the King most of all. After awhile the King dismissed his courtiersand there remained but myselfhis highness the Kingan eunuch and a little white slave. Then the King gave orders and they brought the table of foodcontaining all kinds of birds that hop and fly and couple in the nestssuch as grouse and quails and so forth.
He signed to me to eat with him；so I rose and kissed the earth before him then sat down and ate with him. When we had done eatingthe table was removedand I washed my hands seven times.
Then I took pen and ink and wrote the following verses：
Weep for the cranes that erst within the porringers did lieAnd for the stews and partridges evanished heave a sigh！
Mourn for the younglings of the grouse；lament unceasinglyAs，for the omelettes and the fowls browned in the pando I.
How my heart yearneth for the fishthat in its different kinds，Upon a paste of wheaten flour lay hidden in the pie！
Praised be God for the roast meat！As in the dish it layWith pot-herbssoaked in vinegarin porringers hard by！
My hunger was appeased： I layintent upon the gleam Of arms that in the frumenty were buried bracelet high.
I woke my sleeping appetite to eatas 'twere in jestOf all the tarts thatpiled on traysshone fair unto the eye.
O soulhave patience！For indeedFate full of marvel is： If fortune straiten thee one daythe next relief is nigh.
Then I rose and seated myself at a distancewhilst the King read what I had written and marvelled and said 'Strange that an ape should be gifted with such fluency and skill in penmanship！By Allahthis is a wonder of wonders！'Then they set choice wine before the King in flagons of glass；and he drankthen passed the cup to me；and I kissed the earth and drank and wrote the following verses：
They burnt me with fireto make me speakAnd found me patient and debonair.
For this I am borne on men's hands on high And kiss the rosy lips of the fair！
And these also：
Morn struggles through the dusk；so pour me outI prayOf wine，such wine as makes the saddest-hearted gay！
So pure and bright it isthat whether wine in glass Or glass in wine be heldi'faith'tis hard to say.
The King read them and saidwith a sigh'If a man had this quickness of withe would excel all the folk of his age and time.'Then he called for a chess-board and said to me'Wilt thou play with me？'I signed with my head as who should say，'Yes，'and came forward and placed the men and played two games with himeach of which I wonmuch to his amazement. Then I took the pen and wrote the following verses：
Two hosts throughout the live-long day contend in deadly fight，That waxes ever till the shades of night upon them creep；
Thenwhen the darkness puts an end at last unto their strife，Upon one couch and side by sidethey lay them down to sleep.
These verses filled the King with wonder and delightand he said to the eunuch'Go to thy mistressthe Lady of Beautyand bid her come and amuse herself with the sight of this wonderful ape.'
So the eunuch went out and presently returned with the ladywho，when she saw meveiled her faceand said'O my fatherhow comes it that thou art pleased to send for me and show me to strange men？'O my daughter，'said he'there is none here save the little slave and the eunuch who reared thee and myselfthy father. From whom then dost thou veil thy face？'Quoth she'This that thou deemest an ape is a wise and learned manthe son of a king；the Afrit Jerjis of the lineage of Iblis enchanted him thusafter putting to death his own wifethe daughter of King EfitamousLord of the Ebony Islands.'At this the King wondered and turning to mesaid'Is this true that she says of thee？'
And I signed with my headas who should say'Yes；'and wept.
