سندبادنامه 389.4

389.4

19 Story of the Thief, the Lion, and Ḥamdūna
encountered him. When his eye fell upon the lion, he paid homage and performed the duty of servitude
and obedience, and said: "Has some occurrence or event befallen the king?
For the mark of alteration can be seen in your august form and complexion, and the sign of bewilderment
and anxiety can be recognized upon your auspicious brow; and to this unfamiliar place and path
and coming alone and solitary along an unfamiliar path—what is the reason for it? If there is any service
that this servant is qualified to undertake, let him give the command, so that the requirements of compliance may be fulfilled."
The lion said, "Last night I went to such-and-such a place in search of prey, and stood among the pack-animals
waiting to find an opportunity and seize some quarry. An exceedingly reckless thief and a vagabond,
extremely agile and nimble, came up, threw his legs over my back, and drove me up
and down, through ravines and gullies; and out of fear of his knife and sword I kept going, until
at last God the Exalted made him merciful toward me, and granted me escape and deliverance from his clutches.
He climbed up a tree and abandoned me."
The monkey said, "The king has erred in judgment by submitting to such a situation;
for no creature among the beasts possessed the strength or ability to