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‘How long [wilt thou afflict me], O star of ill-omen? First my wealth and now my life!’ And he bewailed himself, saying, ‘Endeavour profiteth me nought against evil fortune. The Compassionate aided me not and endeavour was useless.’[1]
On like wise, O king,” continued the youth, “whilst fortune was favourable to me, all that I did came to good; but now that it is grown contrary to me, everything turneth against me.”
When the youth had made an end of his story, the king’s anger subsided a little and he said, “Restore him to the prison, for the day draweth to an end, and to-morrow we will look into his affair.”
- ↑ Or “forbidden,” i.e. sinful.
