King Shahryar marvelled at this history[444] and said, “By Allah,
verily, injustice slayeth its folk!”[445] And he was edified by that
wherewith Shahrazad bespoke him and sought help of Allah the Most High.
Then said he to her, “Tell me another of thy tales, O Shahrazad; supply
me with a pleasant story and this shall be the completion of the
story-telling.” Shahrazad replied, “With love and gladness! It hath
reached me, O auspicious King, that a man once declared to his mates, I
will set forth to you a means of security against annoy. A friend of
mine once related to me and said:—We attained to security against annoy,
and the origin of it was other than this; that is, it was the
following[446]:—