THE EBONY HORSE.[FN#1]



There was once in times of yore and ages long gone before, a
great and puissant King, of the Kings of the Persians, Sabur by
name, who was the richest of all the Kings in store of wealth and
dominion and surpassed each and every in wit and wisdom. He was
generous, open handed and beneficent, and he gave to those who
sought him and repelled not those who resorted to him; and he
comforted the broken-hearted and honourably entreated those who
fled to him for refuge. Moreover, he loved the poor and was
hospitable to strangers and did the oppressed justice upon the
oppressor. He had three daughters, like full moons of shining
light or flower-gardens blooming bright; and a son as he were the
moon; and it was his wont to keep two festivals in the twelve-
month, those of the Nau-Roz, or New Year, and Mihrgan the
Autumnal Equinox,[FN#2] on which occasions he threw open his
palaces and gave largesse and made proclamation of safety and
security and promoted his chamberlains and viceroys; and the
people of his realm came in to him and saluted him and gave him
joy of the holy day, bringing him gifts and servants and eunuchs.
Now he loved science and geometry, and one festival-day as he sat
on his kingly throne there came in to him three wise men, cunning
artificers and past masters in all manner of craft and
inventions, skilled in making things curious and rare, such as
confound the wit; and versed in the knowledge of occult truths
and perfect in mysteries and subtleties. And they were of three