When the death of his father placed him on
the throne, he soon made his former associates his
courtiers, and exacted the most servile homage from the
nobles. The old vazir, however, despised the young king
and would render none. This so exasperated him that he
called his counsellors together to advise the most
excruciating of tortures for the old man. Said one: "Let
him be flayed alive and let shoes be made of his skin."
The vazir ejaculated on this but one word, "Origin."
Said the next: "Let him be hacked into pieces and his
limbs cast to the dogs." The vazir said, "Origin."
Another advised: "Let him be forthwith executed, and his
house be levelled to the ground." Once more the vazir
simply said, "Origin." Then the king turned to the rest,
who declared each according to his opinion, the vazir
noticing each with the same word. At last a young man,
who had not spoken hitherto, was asked. "May it please
your Majesty," said he, "if you ask my opinion, it is
this: Here is an aged man, and honourable from his
years, family, and position; moreover, he served in the
king your father's court, and nursed you as a boy. It
were well, considering all these matters, to pay him
respect, and render his old age comfortable.
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