But on the morrow, when the king
Went forth again, the holy book
Carried before him, as is right,
And through the square his way he took;
My man comes running, flecked with blood
From yesterday, and falling down
Cries out most earnestly, “O king,
My lord, O king, do right, I pray!
“How canst thou, ere thou hear, discern
If I speak folly? but a king,
Whether a thing be great or small,
Like Allah, hears and judges all.
“Wherefore hear thou! Thou know’st, how fierce
In these last days the sun hath burned;
That the green water in the tanks
Is to a putrid puddle turned;
And the canal, that from the stream
Of Samarcand is brought this way,
Wastes and runs thinner every day.
‘Now I at nightfall had gone forth
Alone, and in a darksome place
Under some mulberry-trees I found
A little pool; and in short space
With all the water that was there
I filled my pitcher, and stole home
Unseen; and having drink to spare,
I hid the can behind the door,
And went up on the roof to sleep.
“But in the night, which was with wind
And burning dust, again I creep
Down, having fever, for a drink.
“Now, meanwhile had my brethren found
The water-pitcher, where it stood
Behind the door upon the ground,
And called my mother; and they all,
As they were thirsty, and the night
Most sultry, drained the pitcher there;
That they sate with it, in my sight,
Their lips still wet, when I came down.
“Now mark! I, being fevered, sick,
(Most unblest also), at that sight
Brake forth, and cursed them—dost thou hear?—
One was my mother.—— Now do right!”
But my lord mused a space, and said,—
“Send him away, sirs, and make on!
It is some madman,” the king said.
As the king bade, so was it done.
The morrow, at the self-same hour,
In the king’s path, behold, the man,
Not kneeling, sternly fixed! He stood
Right opposite, and thus began,
Frowning grim down: “Thou wicked king,
Most deaf where thou shouldst most give ear!
What! must I howl in the next world,
Because thou wilt not listen here?