This message having been communicated to the vazírs and other officials, the king commanded them to be ready next morning to set out for Paradise, and they at once perceived that their lives were in danger. The sultan, reading their thoughts in their terrified countenances, exclaimed: “O ye besotted fools! All intelligent and pious men labour during their whole lives to attain Paradise, and you ought to be delighted with the message you have just received. Get quickly ready to depart!” Accordingly they were obliged to feign acquiescence and prepare for death. Then said Farrukhrúz to the sultan: “Though there are many roads, none is shorter than that by which your majesty’s humble servant departed.” So the sultan caused a great quantity of wood to be piled up and about fifty of those wicked and envious men to be placed upon it. When the fire was kindled and began to distress them, they pleaded for mercy, and said: “We acknowledge our fault and repent of it. Hereafter we shall never envy or slander any one.” But their entreaties were not heeded and they became a prey to the flames.
After this the sultan counted the days, and when the fortieth arrived he said to Farrukhrúz: “To-day our friends should return, and I am expecting them.” But when it was evening and there was no sign of them, the sultan said to his favourite: “Wise men have said that the road to the next world is full of dangers, and I begin to fear that some accident has befallen our friends.” Hereupon Farrukhrúz exclaimed: “May it please your majesty, that is a road which not everybody can travel upon,” and proceeded to relate the truth of the whole affair, adding: “The greatest service I have rendered your majesty was to purge the kingdom of those villains, because they would, by their conspiracies and treacherous machinations, at last have succeeded in ruining the country.” When the sultan became fully aware of the wickedness of the vazírs he thanked Farrukhrúz and said: “So long as I have you what more vazírs do I need? And as I possess no offspring I make you my successor.” Farrukhrúz kissed the ground of obedience and replied: “May power and dominion ever belong to your majesty! I have sojourned here to serve you and to remove those wretches. But as I am connected with the fairies, I have no longer the option to remain here. I shall however bring my parents and relatives, and beg your majesty to receive them under the shadow of your protection.” The sultan agreed to this proposal and by order of Farrukhrúz the afríts brought his whole family to Yaman, and they were most happy to meet him. The sultan made Khoja Marján, the father of Farrukhrúz, his vazír, and appointed his other relatives to various stations.
When the leave of Farrukhrúz had expired he bade adieu to the sultan and his relatives, and departing to the land of the fairies he joined his spouse Queen Bánú, and whilst he lived never omitted to visit his friends at Yaman once every six months. At last, however, all responded to the unavoidable behest of the sovereign of destiny, and, being divested of the borrowed garments of this perishable life, departed to the regions of eternity.
THE KING AND HIS FOUR MINISTERS.