They also say that one day a merchant brought beautiful horses to the padishah. The padishah bought them and put them in his stables. And he gave the merchant another thousand gold pieces:
- Here, bring me more horses like this. Go! The merchant bowed and left in peace.
A lot of time has passed. Once the padishah called the vizier to him and told him this:
- O most cunning of the cunning! Write to me the names of the stupidest people in my country.
The vizier grinned:
- This is, of course, possible. But is it worth it?
- Why? – the padishah was surprised.
- O lord! May the boldness of my words be forgiven, but I will have to add you first to this list.
The padishah was surprised at such unheard-of audacity, and the vizier explained:
“Remember, you gave the merchant a thousand gold pieces, but didn’t take anything as collateral, right?”
- So.
“And you don’t know who he is or where he comes from, do you?”
- So.
“And you think he’ll bring you horses, don’t you?”
- What if he does?
“Then I will cross out your name from the list of fools, O lord, and in the vacant place I will write the name of the merchant.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru