It is told of a thieving person, one of the braves, that he used to rob
and cut the way by himself upon caravans, and whenever the Chief of
Police and the Governors sought him, he would flee from them and fortify
himself in the mountains. Now it came to pass that a certain man
journeyed along the road wherein was that robber, and this man was
single-handed and knew not the sore perils besetting his way. So the
highwayman came out upon him and said to him, “Bring out that which is
with thee, for I mean to kill thee and no mistake.” Quoth the traveller,
“Kill me not, but annex these saddle-bags and divide that which is in
them and take to thee the fourth part.” And the thief answered, “I will
not take aught but the whole.”[126] Rejoined the traveller, “Take half,
and let me go;” but the robber replied, “I will have naught but the
whole, and eke I will kill thee.” So the wayfarer said, “Take it.”
Accordingly the highwayman took the saddle-bags and offered to slay the
traveller, who said, “What is this? Thou hast against me no blood-feud
that should make my slaughter incumbent.” Quoth the other, “Needs must I
kill thee;” whereupon the traveller dismounted from his horse and
grovelled before him, beseeching the thief and bespeaking him fair. The
man hearkened not to his prayers, but cast him to the ground; whereupon
the traveller raised his eyes and seeing a francolin flying over him,
said, in his agony, “O Francolin,[127] bear testimony that this man
slayeth me unjustly and wickedly; for indeed I have given him all that
was with me and entreated him to let me go, for my children’s sake; yet
would he not consent. But be thou witness against him, for Allah is not
unmindful of deeds which the oppressors do.” The highwayman paid no heed
to what he heard, but smote him and cut off his head. After this, the
rulers compounded with the highwayman for his submission, and when he
came before them, they enriched him and he became in such favour with
the lieutenant of the Sultan that he used to eat and drink with him and
there befel between them familiar converse which lasted a long while
till in fine there chanced a curious chance. The lieutenant of the
Sultan one day of the days made a banquet, and therein was a roasted
francolin, which when the robber saw, he laughed a loud laugh. The
lieutenant was angered against him and said to him, “What is the meaning
of thy laughter? Seest thou any fault or dost thou mock at us, of thy
lack of good manners?” Answered the highwayman, “Not so, by Allah, O my
lord; but I saw yonder francolin, which brought to my mind an
extraordinary thing; and ’twas on this wise. In the days of my youth, I
used to cut the way, and one day I waylaid a man, who had with him a
pair of saddle-bags and money therein.” So I said to him, “Leave these
saddle-bags, for I mean to slay thee.” Quoth he, “Take the fourth part
of that which is in them and leave me the rest;” and quoth I, “Needs
must I take the whole and kill thee without mistake.” Then said he,
“Take the saddle-bags and let me wend my way;” but I answered, “There is
no help but that I slay thee.” As we were in this contention, behold, he
saw a francolin and turning to it, said, “Bear testimony against him, O
Francolin, that he slayeth me unjustly and letteth me not go to my
children, for all he hath taken my money.” However, I had no pity on him
neither hearkened to that which he said, but smote him and slew him and
concerned not myself with the evidence of the francolin. His story
troubled the lieutenant of the Sultan and he was enraged against him
with sore rage; so he drew his sword and smiting him, cut off his head
while he sat at table; whereupon a voice recited these couplets—
An wouldst not be injurèd, injure not; ✿ But do good and from Allah win
goodly lot;
For what happeth by Allah is doomed to be ✿ Yet thine acts are the root
I would have thee wot.[128]
Now this voice was the francolin which bore witness against him. The
company present marvelled at this tale and all cried, “Woe to the
oppressor!” Then came forward the sixteenth constable and said, “And I
for another will tell you a marvellous story which is on this wise.”