King Ardschi-Bordschi’s minister had one only son. This son went out to the wars, and returned home again after two years’ absence. Just while the minister was engaged with preparations for a festival of joy to celebrate the return of his son, there appeared before him suddenly another son in all respects exactly like his own. In form, colour, and gait there was no sort of difference to be discerned between them. Moreover, the horses they rode, their clothing, their quivers, their mode of speech, were so perfectly similar that none of the minister’s friends, nor the very mother of the young man, nor yet his wife herself, could take upon them to decide which of the two was his very son.
It was not very long before there was open feud in the house between the two; both youths declaring with equal energy and determination, “These are my parents, my wife, my children....” Finding the case quite beyond his own capacity to decide the minister brought the whole before the King. As the King found himself similarly embarrassed he sent and called all the relations; and to the mother he said, “Which of these two is your son?” and to the wife, “Which of these two is your husband?” and to the children, “Which of these two is your father?” But they all answered with one consent, “We are not in a condition to decide, for no man can tell which is which.”
Then King Ardschi-Bordschi thought within himself, “How shall I do to bring this matter to an end? It is clear not even the man’s nearest relations can tell which of these two is the right man; how then can I, who never saw either of them before? Yet if I let them go without deciding the matter, the Boy-king will send and tell me I am not gifted to discern the true from the false, and counsel me before all the people to lay aside my kingly dignity. Now then, therefore, let us prove the matter even as the Boy-king would have it proved. We will call the men hither before us, and will examine them concerning their family and ancestors; he that is really the man’s son will know the names of his generations, but he that merely pretendeth, shall he not be a stranger to these things?” So he sent and called the men before him again separately and inquired of them, saying, “Tell me now the names of thy father, and grandfather, and great-grandfather up to the earliest times, so shall I distinguish which of you is really this man’s son.” But the one of them who had come the last from the wars, was no man but a Schimnu[1], who had taken the son’s form to deceive his parents, he by his demoniacal knowledge could answer all these things so that the very father was astonished to hear him, while the real son could go no farther back than to give the name of his grandfather.
When Ardschi-Bordschi therefore found how much the Schimnu exceeded the real son in knowledge of his family, he pronounced that he was the rightful son, and the wife and parents and friends and all the people praised the sagacity of the king in settling the matter.
Thus the Schimnu was taken home with joy in the midst of the gathering of the family, and the real son not knowing whither to betake himself, followed afar off, mourning as he went.
It so happened that their homeward way lay past the mound, where the Boy-king sat enthroned, who, hearing the feet of many people, and the voice of the minister’s son wailing behind, called them all unto him, nor could they fail of compliance with the word of the Boy-king in his majesty.
When they had paid him their obeisance, bowing themselves many times before him, the Boy-king, rising in his majesty, thus spoke:—
“The decision of your King is hasty, and can never stand. I will judge your cause. Do you promise to abide by my decision?”
Then they could not choose but accept; and he made them state their whole case before him, and explain how Ardschi-Bordschi had decided, which when he had heard, he said,—
“I will set you the proof of whether of you two is the rightful son; let there be brought me hither a water-jug.” And one of the boys who stood in waiting that day upon the Boy-king’s throne, ran and fetched a water-jug, holding in measure about a pint.