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tate of the matter; who has seized and brought _Hatim_ here?' The honest fellow related truly all that had occurred from beginning to end, and added, '_Hatim_ is come here of his own accord for my sake.' _Naufal_, on hearing this manly act of _Hatim's_, was greatly astonished, and exclaimed, 'How surprising is thy liberality! even thy life thou hast not feared to risk [for the good of others]!' With regard to all those who laid false claims to having seized _Hatim_, the king ordered them to have their hands tied behind their backs, and instead of five hundred pieces of gold, to receive each five hundred strokes of a slipper on their heads, so that their lives might perish [under the punishment]. Instantly, the strokes of the slippers began to be laid on in such a style, that in a short time their heads became quite bald. True it is, that to tell an untruth is such a guilt, that no other guilt equals it; may God keep every one free from this calamity, and not give him a propensity for telling lies; many people persevere in uttering falsehoods, but at the moment of detection they meet with their dessert. "In short, _Naufal_ having rewarded all of them according to their desserts, thought it contrary to gentlemanly conduct and manliness of character to harbour enmity and strife towards a man like _Hatim_, from whom multitudes received happiness, and who, for the sake of the necessitous, did not even spare his own life, and was entirely devoted to the ways of God. He instantly seized _Hatim's_ hand with great cordiality and friendship, and said to him, 'Why should it not be the case? [200] such a man as you are can perform such an action.' Then the king, with great respect and attention, made _Hatim_ sit down near him, and he instantly restored to him the lands and property, and the wealth and moveables, he had confiscated; and bestowed on him anew the chieftainship of the tribe of _Ta,i_, and ordered the five hundred pieces of gold to be given to the old man from the treasury, who, blessing [the king], went away." When I had heard the whole of this adventure of _Hatim's_, a spirit of rivalry came into my mind; and this idea occurred to me, viz., "_Hatim_ was the only chief of his own tribe [of Arabs]. He, by one act of liberality has gained such renown, that to this day it is celebrated; whilst I am, by the decree of God, the king of all _Iran_; and it would be a pity if I were to remain excluded from this good fortune
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