Itiswritten，’’answeredtheHakim，withimperturbablegravity，`abusenotthesteedwhichhathbornetheefromthebattle。’Know，thatsuchtalismansmightindeedbeframed，butrarehasbeenthenumberofadeptswhohavedaredtoundertaketheapplicationoftheirvirtue。Severerestrictions，painfulobservances，fasts，andpenance，arenecessaryonthepartofthesagewhousesthismodeofcure；andif，throughneglectofthesepreparations，byhisloveofease，orhisindulgenceofsensualappetite，heomitstocureatleasttwelvepersonswithinthecourseofeachmoon，thevirtueofthedivinegiftdepartsfromtheamulet，andboththelastpatientandthephysicianwillbeexposedtospeedymisfortune，neitherwilltheysurvivetheyear。Irequireyetonelifetomakeuptheappointednumber。’’
Gooutintothecamp，goodHakim，wherethouwiltfinda-many，’’saidtheKing，anddonotseektorobmyheadsmanof_his_patients；itisunbecomingamedicinerofthineeminencetointerferewiththepracticeofanother-Besides，Icannotseehowdeliveringacriminalfromthedeathhedeserves，shouldgotomakeupthytaleofmiraculouscures。’’
Whenthoucanstshowwhyadraughtofcoldwatershouldhavecuredthee，whenthemostpreciousdrugsfailed，’’saidtheHakim，thoumay’streasonontheothermysteriesattendantonthismatter。Formyself，Iaminefficienttothegreatwork，havingthismorningtouchedanuncleananimal。Ask，therefore，nofartherquestions；itisenoughthat，bysparingthisman’slifeatmyrequest，youwilldeliveryourself，greatKing，andthyservant，fromagreatdanger。’’
Harkthee，Adonbec，’’repliedtheKing，Ihavenoobjectionthatleechesshouldwraptheirwordsinmist，andpretendtoderiveknowledgefromthestars；butwhenyoubidRichardPlantagenetfearthatadangerwillfallupon_him_fromsomeidleomen，oromittedceremonial，youspeaktonoignorantSaxon，ordotingoldwoman，whoforegoesherpurposebecauseaharecrossesthepath，aravencroaks，oracatsneezes。’’
Icannothinderyourdoubtofmywords，’’saidAdonbec；