Basatin al-uns 69.28

69.28

‘The penalty for those who wage war against God and His Messenger and strive upon earth to cause corruption is only that they be killed or crucified,’
pitched the tent of obedience to passion and desire in the wilderness of rebellion and defiance, and, having acquired the accoutrements and
splendor of kingship, become inflated with pride like the lion on a royal banner.” The boon companion said: “This very thought has settled in my heart,
and this very reflection has taken hold of my mind. It may be that this inference has no foundation, and this suspicion
may not lead to certainty; yet it is incumbent upon sincere servants and well-wishers of the kingdom not to conceal by any means whatever
benefit or harm can be conceived regarding the interests of the realm, so that they may properly free themselves from the obligation of their debts of gratitude.”
The king said: “The likeness of such events can be imagined in the mirror of possibility, and
by the requirement of far-sighted intellect cannot be denied in every respect; but that minister and army commander are distinguished and
peerless among their peers and equals in the perfection of wisdom, correctness of judgment, abundance of sincerity, wealth of experience, and foresight;
and never has the dust of such an accusation settled upon the skirt of their days, nor has anything been observed from them
save the display of all kinds of commendable services and the demonstration of diverse kinds of distinguished duties of servitude. And every time
the gold of their fidelity has been weighed on the balance of testing and rubbed on the touchstone of discrimination, from the other courtiers, deficiency
and, by weight and fineness, has proved superior, complete, preponderant, and surpassing, this sort of treachery appears remote and strange from them, and
in this matter it is also not fitting to make a definitive judgment. 'However, the walls have ears.' It is incumbent upon you not to allow the occurrence of this affair
to pass from the hiding place of your heart even to the door of your mouth, and, like musk in the pod and like a pearl
in the oyster shell, and fire in the flint, and the kernel in the almond, to keep it hidden and concealed; and just as you have constantly,
in guarding and concealing our secrets, brought the jewel of your nobility and the perfection of your intellect to the surface,
this time as well you must deem adherence to that same praiseworthy conduct and pleasing character necessary; for the disclosure of this matter will not be devoid
of inciting aversion and stirring up the dust of apprehension." The sovereign's deliberation and conversation with the boon-companion had reached this point
when a chamberlain entered hastily through the door and announced that the vizier, coming from Sarandīp in the garb of ascetics,
had entered upon the pilgrim-state of [visiting] the presence and had arrived at the gate. The sovereign became exceedingly anxious and distracted in mind, and in
this state remained perturbed and astonished, and said to the boon-companion: "The vizier is a wise man of sound counsel and an army commander
who marshals the host: