1877.] II. B. Shaw— On the Shighni (Ghalehah) Dialect. 113 
4. Day by day he increased in stature and became big. A day was, 
(that) he spoke to his mother (and) said: “ Gracious mother, there is a 
bow of my father’s.” She said : “ Go into the treasury.” He entered 
into the treasury, and took the bow and came out. 5. He came outside, 
and at once began to exercise himself. He practised much, and became 
expert. 6. A woman came from market. She came with (some) whey 
in a vessel on her head. He pulled the bow, (his arrow) struck this vessel, 
so that it passed through it from one side to the other. 7. The whey 
poured down into her face. Then she put her hand to her face. She fixed 
her eyes on the boys. All of them (had their) arrows in their bows, the 
wazir’s son’s (was) empty. 8. Then she said : “ Oh wretch ! was it for 
this that thou wast born of thy mother P The king has (done well to) 
refuse relationship with thee !” 9. Then he carried his hand to his pocket, 
and took a penny thence. He threw (it) to that woman (saying) : “ Oh 
woman ! take thou the penny ; why dost thou speak evil words ?” 
10. He told his mother (of) this matter, (and) said : “ Oh mother ! 
what evil (?) was there in my father. These men come not into my pre¬ 
sence.” He sent a man into the villages. He assembled all the people, 
and brought them (in). Not any one went into the king’s presence. 
Then he began at once to give food to the men. 11. Afterwards he took 
counsel with the people. He said, “ I will send a man into the king’s 
presence, (and say) a man’s ivorcl (is equivalent to) a woman’s deed 12. 
They sent the man, (who) went into the king’s presence, and saluted (him). 
(The king replied :) “ And to you be the peace. May thy father’s house be 
blessed. Thou hast accomplished a good journey.” 13. Then (the man) 
took up his tale, (and) said: “ King of the world ! The wazir’s son sent me 
before thee. Thou hadst made such and such an agreement with his father. 
Whatever falls upon the heads of kings, they turn not away from their 
word. What is this (that thou doest) ?” 
14. Then the king said: “Seize this (man). Thrust an arrow 
through his mouth. (It) will be a warning to another.” 15. Then this 
man went out, and went before the wazir’s son, who saw him, and said : 
“ Oh take this arrow from this (man’s) mouth.” They took the arrow. 
Then he asked him (of) the matter, and said: “ What did he 
do ?” 16. He replied: “I spoke thy word. The king said: Thrust 
an arrow through this man’s mouth. It will be a warning to another.” 
17. The wazir’s son turned to his counsellors, and spoke, saying: 
“ What shall we do now ? Consult together”, he said. (They replied) 
“We will send another man.” They sent another man. 18. He arrived in 
the king’s presence. After salutation, he took up his tale. The king said : 
“ Seize him !” The wazirs said : “ Oh king of the world ! first do thou 
talk (with him) ; after all, that is a young boy who makes so much of a 
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