Story 27

  A man had attained great excellence in the art of wrestling, who

knew three hundred and sixty exquisite tricks and daily exhibited

something new. He had a particular affection for the beauty of one

of his pupils whom he taught three hundred and fifty-nine tricks,

refraining to impart to him only one. At last the youth had attained

such power and skill that no one was able to contend with him and he

went so far as to say to the sultan: 'I allow superiority to my

teacher on account of his age and from gratitude for his instruction

but my strength is not less than his and my skill equal.' The king,

who was not pleased with this want of good manners, ordered them to

wrestle with each other and a spacious locality having been fixed

upon, the pillars of state and courtiers of his majesty made their

appearance. The youth made an onslaught like a mad elephant with an

impulse which might have uprooted a mountain of brass from its place

but the master, who knew that he was in strength superior to

himself, attacked him with the rare trick he had reserved to himself

and which the youth was unable to elude; whereon the master, lifting

him up with his hands from the ground, raised him above his head and

then threw him down. Shouts were raised by the spectators and the king

ordered a robe of honour with other presents to be given to the

teacher but reproached and blamed the youth for having attempted to

cope with his instructor and succumbed. He replied: 'My lord, he has

not vanquished me by his strength but there was a slender part in

the art of wrestling which he had withheld from me and had today

thereby got the upper hand of me.' The master said: 'I had reserved it

for such an occasion because wise men have said: "Do not give so

much strength to thy friend that, if he becomes thy foe, he may injure

thee." Hast thou not heard what the man said who suffered

molestation from one whom he had educated?

        Either fidelity itself does not exist in this world

        Or nobody practices it in our time.

        No one had learnt archery from me

        Without at last making a target of me.'