council of state to his house when he was approached by a beggar who said: 'O
Yahya! misery brings me to you. I pray you give me something.'
"When Yahya had arrived at his house he made the beggar sit down at the door,
and calling an attendant said to him: 'Every day give this man 1,000 dinars, and
for his food give him his part in the provisions consumed in your house.'
"They say that for a month the beggar came every day and sat at Yahya's door,
and received the sum of 1,000 dinars. When he had received them at the end of
the month, 30,000 dinars, the beggar went away. When informed of his
departure, Yahya said: 'By the Lord! if he had not gone away, and had come to
my door for the rest of his life, I should have given him the same daily ration.'"
In the Kitab Tarykh the following is told: "There was once upon a time a Persian
king named Khrosrou, remarkable among all the kings of Persia for his power,
his greatness of character, his goodness, and the purity of his morals. His wife,
named Chirine, was of a rare beauty, and no one at that time could be compared
to her, for she possessed all the virtues. Khrosrou passionately loved Chirine,
and among the books, famous in the world, which speak of loving couples, there
is one called 'Khrosrou and Chirine.' One day Khrosrou was seated in the palace
with his wife Chirine, when a fisherman brought in a fine fish as a present to
Khrosrou. The latter ordered them to give him a present of 4,000 dirhems.
"'You are wrong,' said Chirine.
"'And why?' asked the King.
"'If, in the future, you made one of your servants a present of 4,000 dirhems he
will not fail to say forthwith, "I am considered as the equal of a fisherman." If
your present is less than 4,000 dirhems, then necessarily he will say, "I am
considered as being less than a fisherman," and your actions will sadden his
heart.'"
"Khrosrou said: 'Your observation is just. But I have spoken, and I cannot
reverse what I have said, for it is shameful for a king to fail in keeping his word.'
"Chirine replied, 'Never mind, I know a way, and no one can say that you broke
your promise.'
"'What is this way?' asked Khrosrou.