The Story of

THE STORY OF
THE’ KING’S SON.

§ WAS scarcely past my infancy when
the king my father perceived that
I was endowed with a great deal
of sense, and spared nothing in
improving it; he employed all.the
men in his dominions that excelled

about me. No sooner was I able
to read and write than I learned
’ the Koran from the beginning to
the end by heart; that admirable
book which contains the foundation, ‘the precepts, and’ the rules

 

of our religion; and that I might be thoroughly instructed in it, I

read the works of the most approved authors, by whose commen-

taries it had been explained. I added to this study that of all -

the traditions collected from the mouth of our Prophet by the great

men that were contemporary with him. I was not satisfied with .

the knowledge: of all that had any relation to our religion, but made
also a particular search into our histories, I made myself perfect in
polite learning, in the works of poets, and in versification.. I applied

myself to geography, chronology, and to speak our Arabic tongue.

‘in-science and art to be constantly