hold of his nature, and there is a tradition of the prophet that every infant is born with an inclination for Islâm, but his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Majûsi.[1] The spouse of Lot[2] became a friend of wicked persons, his race of prophets became extinct; the dog of the companions of the cave[3] for some days associated with good people, and became a man."
When the vizier had said these words, and some of the King's courtiers had added their intercession to his, the King no longer desired to shed the blood of the youth, and said: "I grant the request although I disapprove of it. Knowest thou not what Zâl said to the hero Rustam[4]? 'An enemy cannot be held despicable or helpless. I have seen many a water from a paltry spring becoming grat and carrying off a camel with its load.'"
In short, the vizier brought up the boy delicately, with every comfort, and kept masters to educate him, till they had taught him to address persons in elegant language as well as to reply, and he had acquired every accomplishment. One day the vizier hinted at his talents in the presence of the King, asserting that the instructions of wise men had taken effect upon the boy and had expelled his previous ignorance from his nature. The King smiled at these words and said: "At last a wolf's whelp will be a wolf, although he may grow up with a man."
After two years had elapsed a band of robbers in the locality joined him, tied the knot of friendship, and, when the opportunity presented itself, he killed the vizier with his son, took
- ↑ Majûsi is the Arabised form of Magus, Magian, and stands for Zoroastrian.
- ↑ Another copy has: 'The son of Noah.'
- ↑ In the Qurân, ch.xviii. bears the title of 'The Cave,' where the story of the 'Companions' is narrated, who are known in European tales as 'The Seven Sleepers.'
- ↑ Rustam, the celebrated hero of the Shâhnâmah, or King-book, where his adventures are narrated at great length, were the son of Zâl.
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