There was once a manwho was overborne with debtand his case was straitened upon himso that he left his people and family and went forth in distraction. He wandered on at random till he came to a high-walled and splendidly built city and entered it in a state of wretchedness and despairgnawed with hunger and worn with the toil of his journey. As he passed through one of the streetshe saw a company of notables going along；so he followed themtill they entered a house like to a royal palace. He entered with themand they stayed not till they came in presence of a man of the most dignified and majestic aspectseated at the upper end of a saloon and surrounded by pages and servantsas he were of the sons of the Viziers. When he saw the visitorshe rose and received them with honour；but the poor man was confounded at the goodliness of the place and the crowd of servants and attendants and drawing backin fear and perplexitysat down apart in a place afar offwhere none should see him.
After awhilein came a man with four hunting-dogsclad in various kinds of silk and brocade and having on their necks collars of gold with chains of silverand tied up each dog in a place set apart for him；after which he went out and presently returned with four dishes of goldfull of rich meatsone of which he set before each dog. Then he went away and left them，whilst the poor man began to eye the foodfor stress of hunger，and would fain have gone up to one of the dogs and eaten with him；but fear of them withheld him. Presentlyone of the dogs looked at him and God the Most High inspired him with a knowledge of his case；so he drew back from the platter and beckoned to the manwho came and atetill he was satisfied.
Then he would have withdrawnbut the dog pushed the dish towards him with his pawsigning to him to take it and what was left in it for himself. So the man took the dish and leaving the housewent his wayand none followed him. Then he journeyed to another citywhere he sold the dish and buying goods with the pricereturned to his own town. There he sold his stock and paid his debts；and he prospered and became rich and at his ease.