It is related by truthful men, O King, that a certain bird flew high up
firmament wards and presently lit on a rock in the midst of water which
was running. And as he sat there, behold, the current carried to him
the carcass of a man, and lodged it against the rock, for being swollen
it floated. The bird, which was a water fowl, drew near and examining
it, found that it was the dead body of a son of Adam and saw in it sign
of spear and stroke of sword. So he said to himself, "I presume that
this man who hath been slain was some evil doer, and that a company
banded themselves together against him and put him to death and were at
peace from him and his evil doing." And as he continued marvelling at
this, suddenly the vultures and kites came down upon the carcass from
all sides and get round it; which when the water fowl saw, he feared
with sore affright and said, "I cannot abide here any longer." So he
flew away in quest of a place where he might wone, till that carcass
should come to an end and the birds of prey leave it; and he stayed not
in his flight, till he found a river with a tree in its midst. So he
alighted on the tree, troubled and distraught and sore grieved for
departing from his birth place, and said to himself, "Verily sorrows
cease not to follow me: I was at my ease when I saw that carcass, and
rejoiced therein with much joy, saying, 'This is a gift of daily bread
which Allah hath dealt to me:' but my joy became annoy and my gladness
turned to sadness, for the ravenous birds, which are like lions, seized
upon it and tare it to pieces and came between me and my prize So how
can I hope to be secure from misfortune in this world, or put any trust
therein? Indeed, the proverb saith,'The world is the dwelling of him
who hath no dwelling': he who hath no wits is cozened by it and
entrusteth it with his wealth and his child and his family and his
folk; and whoso is cozened ceaseth not to rely upon it, pacing proudly
upon earth until he is laid under earth and the dust is cast over his
corpse by him who of all men was dearest to him and nearest. But naught
is better for generous youth than patience under its cares and
miseries. I have left my native place and it is abhorrent to me to quit
my brethren and friends and loved ones." Now whilst he was thus musing
lo! a male tortoise descended into the river and, approaching the water
fowl, saluted him, saying, "O my lord, what hath exiled thee and driven
thee so far from thy place?" Replied the water fowl, "The descent of
enemies thereon; for the wise brooketh not the neighbourhood of his
foe; and how well saith the poet,
Whenas on any land the oppressor doth alight, * There's nothing left
for those, that dwell therein, but flight.'''[FN#149]
Quoth the tortoise, "If the matter be as thou sayest and the case as
thou describest, I will not leave thee nor cease to stand before thee,
that I may do thy need and fulfil thy service; for it is said that
there is no sorer desolation than that of him who is an exile, cut off
from friends and home; and it is also said that no calamity equalleth
that of severance from the good; but the best solace for men of
understanding is to seek companionship in strangerhood and be patient
under sorrows and adversity. Wherefore I hope that thou wilt approve of
my company, for I will be to thee a servant and a helper." Now when the
water fowl heard the tortoise's words he answered, "Verily, thou art
right in what thou sayest for, by my life, I have found grief and pain
in separation, what while I have been parted from my place and sundered
from my brethren and friends; seeing that in severance is an admonition
to him who will be admonished and matter of thought for him who will
take thought. If the generous youth find not a companion to console
him, weal is forever cut off from him and ill is eternally established
with him; and there is nothing for the sage but to solace himself in
every event with brethren and be constant in patience and endurance:
indeed these two are praiseworthy qualities, and both uphold one under
calamities and vicissitudes of the world and ward off startling sorrows
and harrowing cares, come what will." Rejoined the tortoise, "Beware of
sorrow, for it will spoil thy life and waste thy manliness." And the
two gave not over conversing till the bird said, "Never shall I cease
fearing the shifts of time and vicissitudes of events." When the
tortoise heard this, he came up to him and, kissing him between the
eyes, said to him, "Never may the company of the birds cease to be
blest in thee and through thee, and find wisdom in thy good counsel!
How shalt thou be burdened with care and harm?" And he went on to
comfort the water fowl and soothe his terrors till he became reassured.
Then he flew to the place where the carcass was and found on arriving
there the birds of prey gone, and they had left nothing of the body but
bones; whereupon he returned to the tortoise and acquainted him with
the fact that the foe had disappeared from his place, saying, "Know
that of a truth I long for return homewards to enjoy the society of my
friends; for the sage cannot endure separation from his native place."
So they both went thither and found naught to affright them; whereupon
the water fowl began repeating,
"And haply whenas strait descends on lot of generous youth *
Right sore, with Allah only lies his issue from annoy:
He's straitened, but full oft when rings and meshes straitest
clip, * He 'scapes his strait and joyance finds, albe I see
no joy."
So the twain abode in that island; and while the water fowl was
enjoying a life of peace and gladness, suddenly Fate led thither a
hungry falcon, which drove its talons into the bird's belly and killed
him, nor did caution avail him when his term of life was ended. Now the
cause of his death was that he neglected to use the formula of praise,
and it is said that his form of adoration was as follows, "Praised be
our Lord in that He ordereth and ordaineth; and praised be our Lord in
that He enricheth and impoverisheth!" Such was the waterfowl's end and
the tale of the ravenous birds. And when it was finished quoth the
Sultan, "O Shahrazad, verily thou overwhelmest me with admonitions and
salutary instances. Hast thou any stories of beasts?" "Yes," answered
she, and began to tell the