ned them and read them; and they
contained admonition, and matter for example and restraint, unto those
endowed with faculties of discernment. Upon the first tablet was
inscribed, in the ancient Greek character,--

O son of Adam, how heedless art thou of the case of him who
hath been before thee! Thy years and age have diverted thee
from considering him. Knowest thou not that the cup of death
will be filled for thee, and that in a short time thou wilt
drink it? Look then to thyself before entering thy grave.
Where are those who possessed the countries and abased the
servants of God and led armies? Death hath come upon them;
and God is the terminator of delights and the separator of
companions and the devastator of flourishing dwellings; so He
hath transported them from the amplitude of palaces to the
straightness of the graves.

And in the lower part of the tablet were inscribed these verses:--

Where are the Kings and the peoplers of the earth? They have
quitted that which they have built and peopled;
And in the grave they are pledged for their past actions: there
after destruction, they have become putrid corpses.
Where are the troops? They repelled not, nor profited. And
where is that which they collected and hoarded?
The decree of the Lord of the Throne surprised them. Neither
riches nor refuge saved them from it.

And the Emeer Moosa fainted; his tears ran down upon his cheeks, and he
said, By Allah, indifference to the world is the most appropriate and
the most sure course! Then he caused an inkhorn and a paper to be
brought, and he wrote the inscription of the first tablet; after which
he drew near to the second tablet, and the third, and the fourth; and
having copied what was inscribed on them, he descended from the
mountain; and the world had been pictured before his eyes.

And when he came back to the troops, they passed the day devising means
of entering the city; and the Emeer Moosa said to his Wezeer, Talib the
son of Sahl, and to those of his chief officers who were around him, How
shall we contrive to enter the city, that we may see its wonders?
Perhaps we shall find in it something by which we may ingratiate
ourselves with the Prince of the Faithful.--Talib the son of Sahl
replied, May God continue the prosperity of the Emeer! Let us make a
ladder, and mount upon it, and perhaps we shall gain acce