The Book of Delight, and Other Papers | Page 8

her warning, and he told the fox of his misgiving,
adding, that his wife refused to accompany him. "Ah," replied the fox,
"I fear your fate will be like the silversmith's; let me tell you his story,
and you will know how silly it is to listen to a wife's counsel."
THE SILVERSMITH WHO FOLLOWED HIS WIFE'S COUNSEL

A silversmith of Babylon, skilful in his craft, was one day at work.
"Listen to me," said his wife, "and I will make thee rich and honored.
Our lord, the king, has an only daughter, and he loves her as his life.
Fashion for her a silver image of herself, and I will bear it to her as a
gift." The statue was soon made, and the princess rejoiced at seeing it.
She gave a cloak and earrings to the artist's wife, and she showed them
to her husband in triumph. "But where is the wealth and the honor?" he
asked. "The statue was worth much more than thou hast brought." Next
day the king saw the statue in his daughter's hand, and his anger was
kindled. "Is it not ordered," he cried, "that none should make an image?
Cut off his right hand." The king's command was carried out, and daily
the smith wept, and exclaimed, "Take warning from me, ye husbands,
and obey not the voice of your wives."
The leopard shuddered when he heard this tale; but the fox went on:
THE WOODCUTTER AND THE WOMAN
A hewer of wood in Damascus was cutting logs, and his wife sat
spinning by his side. "My departed father," she said, "was a better
workman than thou. He could chop with both hands: when the right
hand was tired, he used the left." "Nay," said he, "no woodcutter does
that, he uses his right hand, unless he be a left-handed man." "Ah, my
dear," she entreated, "try and do it as my father did." The witless wight
raised his left hand to hew the wood, but struck his right-hand thumb
instead. Without a word he took the axe and smote her on the head, and
she died. His deed was noised about; the woodcutter was seized and
stoned for his crime. Therefore, continued the fox, I say unto thee, all
women are deceivers and trappers of souls. And let me tell you more of
these wily stratagems.
The fox reinforces his argument by relating an episode in which a
contrast is drawn between
MAN'S LOVE AND WOMAN'S
A king of the Arabs, wise and well-advised, was one day seated with
his counsellors, who were loud in the praise of women, lauding their

virtues and their wisdom. "Cut short these words," said the king.
"Never since the world began has there been a good woman. They love
for their own ends." "But," pleaded his sages, "O King, thou art hasty.
Women there are, wise and faithful and spotless, who love their
husbands and tend their children." "Then," said the king, "here is my
city before you: search it through, and find one of the good women of
whom you speak." They sought, and they found a woman, chaste and
wise, fair as the moon and bright as the sun, the wife of a wealthy
trader; and the counsellors reported about her to the king. He sent for
her husband, and received him with favor. "I have something for thy
ear," said the king. "I have a good and desirable daughter: she is my
only child; I will not give her to a king or a prince: let me find a simple,
faithful man, who will love her and hold her in esteem. Thou art such a
one; thou shalt have her. But thou art married: slay thy wife to-night,
and to-morrow thou shalt wed my daughter." "I am unworthy," pleaded
the man, "to be the shepherd of thy flock, much less the husband of thy
daughter." But the king would take no denial. "But how shall I kill my
wife? For fifteen years she has eaten of my bread and drunk of my cup.
She is the joy of my heart; her love and esteem grow day by day."
"Slay her," said the king, "and be king hereafter." He went forth from
the presence, downcast and sad, thinking over, and a little shaken by,
the king's temptation. At home he saw his wife and his two babes.
"Better," he cried, "is my wife than a kingdom. Cursed be all kings who
tempt men to sip sorrow, calling it joy." The king waited his coming in
vain; and then he sent messengers to the man's shop. When he found
that the man's love had conquered his lust, he said, with a sneer, "Thou
art no man: thy heart is a woman's."
In the evening the king