THE ANGEL OF DEATH WITH THE PROUD KING
AND THE DEVOUT MAN.
It is related, O auspicious King, that one of the olden monarchs
was once minded to ride out in state with the Officers of his
realm and the Grandees of his retinue and display to the folk the
marvels of his magnificence. So he ordered his Lords and Emirs
equip them therefor and commanded his keeper of the wardrobe to
bring him of the richest of raiment, such as befitted the King in
his state; and he bade them bring his steeds[FN#453] of the
finest breeds and pedigrees every man heeds; which being done, he
chose out of the raiment what rejoiced him most and of the horses
that which he deemed best; and, donning the clothes, together
with a collar set with margarites and rubies and all manner
jewels, mounted and set forth in state, making his destrier
prance and curvet among his troops and glorying in his pride and
despotic power. And Iblis came to him and, laying his hand upon
his nose, blew into his nostrils the breath of hauteur and
conceit, so that he magnified and glorified himself and said in
his heart, "Who among men is like unto me?" And he became so
puffed up with arrogance and self-sufficiency, and so taken up
with the thought of his own splendour and magnificence, that he
would not vouchsafe a glance to any man. Presently, there stood
before him one clad in tattered clothes and saluted him, but he
returned not his salam; whereupon the stranger laid hold of his
horse's bridle. "Lift thy hand," cried the King, "thou knowest
not whose bridle-rein it is whereof thou takest hold." Quoth the
other, I have a need of thee." Quoth the King, "Wait till I
alight and then name thy need." Rejoined the stranger, "It is a
secret and I will not tell it but in thine ear." So the King
bowed his head to him and he said, "I am the Angel of Death and I
purpose to take thy soul." Replied the King, "Have patience with
me a little, whilst I return to my house and take leave of my
people and children and neighbours and wife." "By no means so,"
answered the Angel; "thou shalt never return nor look on them
again, for the fated term of thy life is past." So saying, he
took the soul of the King (who fell off his horse's back dead)
and departed thence. Presently the Death Angel met a devout man,
of whom Almighty Allah had accepted, and saluted him. He returned
the salute, and the Angel said to him, "O pious man, I have a
need of thee which must be kept secret." "Tell it in my ear,"
quoth the devotee; and quoth the other, "I am the Angel of
Death." Replied the man, "Welcome to thee! and praised be Allah
for thy coming! I am aweary of awaiting thine arrival; for indeed
long hath been thine absence from the lover which longeth for
thee." Said the Angel, "If thou have any business, make an end of
it;" but the other answered, saying, "There is nothing so urgent
to me as the meeting with my Lord, to whom be honour and glory!"
And the Angel said "How wouldst thou fain have me take thy soul?
I am bidden to take it as thou willest and choosest." He replied,
"Tarry till I make the Wuzu-ablution and pray; and, when I
prostrate myself, then take my soul while my body is on the
ground."[FN#454] Quoth the Angel, "Verily, my Lord (be He
extolled and exalted!) commanded me not to take thy soul but with
thy consent and as thou shouldst wish; so I will do thy will."
Then the devout man made the minor ablution[FN#455] and prayed:
and the Angel of Death took his soul in the act of prostration
and Almighty Allah transported it to the place of mercy and
acceptance and forgiveness. And they tell another tale of
