Page:Swahili tales.djvu/333

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SELL DEAR.
313

"I am going to-day to get the Sultanship, for I have known them by my own understanding." And the Vizir waited till nine o'clock, when the Sultan held his audience. And as the Vizir went out of his house, he owned nothing but the one kanzu that was on his body. And he went out with a joyful spirit.

And he went till he arrived before the door of the Sultan. And the people who were there, and all the soldiers who were there, were greatly astonished. "Eh! The great Vizir, who has all the Sultan's affairs in his hands, is coming in a kanzu only, and has not even sandals on his feet." And the people were astonished at him; there was not one that knew what he had in his soul. And the simple people said, "Perhaps he has lost his wife." And thus he came to the Sultan.

And the Vizir arose and said, "Subalkheir Seyedina." And the Sultan said, "Allah bilkheir al wazir, come near." And he sat down.

And the Sultan said, "Tell me your news which you have." And he said, "Good news; I have come to give you the meaning of those words, Sultan, about which you and I made mutual promises. And I have known them by my own understanding, Sultan."

And the Sultan said, "Explain to me the first."

And he said, "When people asked Ali, why his property had gone to ruin; he tells them, 'He who does not know the meaning of it, will not be told;' because he would not tell those matters to ignorant people. They would not know how to reply to him. Was it not better, then, not to tell those who knew not its meaning? For he who tells a man a matter, likes to get an answer. Would you tell anything to a man who would not know how to reply? This, then, was his meaning in not telling them." And the Sultan said, "Yes, certainly, these words