Everything  was  done  with  great  Mat,  and  everybody  was
pleased.
The  day  after  the  wedding  the  wicked  butcher  was
beheaded,  and  the  zalgur  restored  to  the  king.  And
within  a  few  months  His  Majesty,  having  received  some
troops  from  his  father-in-law,  returned  to  his  country  and
slew  the  treacherous  wazir  who  had  conspired  against
him.  Henceforth  all  was  peace  and  gladness.  The  king
lived  to  a  good  old  age,  had  several  children,  and  prospered
exceedingly.
(    355    )


THE  SHIPWRECKED  PRINCE.^

There  was  a  very  wise  and  clever  king,  who  had  four
sons,  and  each  of  these  sons  was  equally  as  wise  and
clever  as  his  father.^  One  day  the  king,  wishing  to  test
the  wisdom  and  talents  of  these  sons,  called  them  all  to
him,  and  among  other  questions  asked  them  each  one,
singly  and  privately,  by  whose  good  fortune  it  was  that
he  possessed  such  a  large  and  powerful  kingdom,  and  was
enabled  to  govern  it  so  wisely  and  so  well.  Said  he,  "  Is
it  through  my  own  good  fortune,  or  your  mother's,  or
yours,  or  your  brothers'  ? "  The  eldest  son  replied,  "  It
is  by  your  own  good  fortune,  0  king,  our  father,  that  you
have  this  kingdom  and  this  power."  Likewise  replied  the
second  and  the  third  sons.  But  when  the  fourth  and
youngest  son  was  thus  inquired  of,  he  answered  that  all
this  might  and  power  and  glory  were  obtained  through  his
own  good  fortune  and  not  another's.^

The  king  was  as  much  enraged  at  the  bold  and  decided
reply  of  his  youngest  son  as  he  had  been  pleased  with
the  fawning,  truckling  answers  of  the  other  three  sons.
