up came to them a duck in a state of extreme terror，and stayed not faring forwards till she reached the tree whereon were perched the two peafowl，when she seemed re assured in mind. The peacock doubted not but that she had some rare story；so he asked her of her case and the cause of her concern，whereto she answered，'I am sick for sorrow，and my horror of the son of Adam：[131] so beware，and again I say beware of the sons of Adam！'Rejoined the peacock，'Fear not now that thou hast won our protection.'Cried the duck，'Alhamdolillah！ glory to God，who hath done away my cark and care by means of you being near！ For indeed I come of friendship fain with you twain.'And when she had ended her speech the peacock's wife came down to her and said，'Well come and welcome and fair cheer！ No harm shall hurt thee： how can son of Adam come to us and we in this isle which lieth amiddlemost of the sea？ From the land he cannot reach us neither can he come against us from the water. So be of good cheer and tell us what hath betided thee from the child of Adam.'
Answered the duck，'Know，then，O thou peahen，that of a truth I have dwelt all my life in this island safely and peacefully，nor have I seen any disquieting thing，till one night，as I was asleep，I sighted in my dream the semblance of a son of Adam，who talked with me and I with him. Then I heard a voice say to me，'O thou duck，beware of the son of Adam and be not imposed on by his words nor by that he may suggest to thee；for he aboundeth in wiles and guiles；so beware with all wariness of his perfidy，for again I say，he is crafty and right cunning even as singeth of him the poet，He'll offer sweetmeats with his edged tongue，And fox thee with the foxy guile of fox.