"In hard and calamitous times, how does your King conduct himself?"
"He shows that he cares not for riches, for the door of his treasury is always
open."
"In the daily receptions how does your King behave?"
"The receptions of my King resemble the gardens of Paradise refreshed by sweet
breezes and scented with the balmy breath of sweetly smelling plants or like a
sea filled with pearls and corals."
The King asked again, "And in council how speaks your King?"
The ambassador answered, "All those who hear my King in council become wise
if they lack wisdom, and brave if they lack courage."
The King of Khorassan was enchanted with the answers of the ambassador,
loaded him with presents, and said to him: "The spirit and judgment of your
King are reflected in the person of his ambassador. They should all be like you."
And he addressed in answer to the Sultan a letter filled with compliments and
felicitations.
In the Kitab Tarykh it is related that the Sultan Mahmoud was fond of his
servant Ayaz on account of the excellence of his wit and judgment. The other
servants of the Sultan were jealous of Ayaz, and murmured against him. One day
the ministers and grandees were in the presence of the Sultan Mahmoud, and
Ayaz was standing respectfully before him. Someone brought a cucumber as a
present to the Sultan. The Sultan sliced it and ate a morsel. He found it very
bitter, but gave no sign of this. He handed a piece of it to Ayaz, saying, "Eat
some of this cucumber and tell me how it tastes, so that the others present may
eat some of it also, and tell us if they ever ate anything like it." Ayaz saluted, and
ate of the cucumber with an appearance of pleasure.
"It is very good."
The King made the others eat of it. They found that it was bitter, and were angry
with Ayaz, and asked how he dare to lie in such a manner.
"It is true," said the Sultan; "how could you say it was good?"