They dwelt thus in the greatest happiness and contentment awhile，till the King fell ill and his sickness increased on him. So he summoned the grandees of his realm and said to them'There is come upon me a sore sicknessperadventure a mortal oneand I have therefore summoned you to consult you respecting a certain matteron which I would have you counsel me as you deem well.'
'What is the matter of which thou wouldst take counsel with us，O King？'asked they；and he answered'I am old and sickly and I fear for the realmafter mefrom the enemies；so I would have you all agree upon some onethat I may proclaim him king in my lifetime and so ye may be at ease.'Whereupon quoth they all'We all approve of thy son-in-law Hassanson of the Vizier Ali；for we have seen the perfectness of his wit and understandingand he knows the rank of allgreat and small.
'Are ye indeed agreed upon this？'asked the Kingand they answered'Yes.'Peradventure，'quoth he'ye say this to my faceof respect for me；butbehind my backye will say otherwise.'But they all answeredsaying'By Allahour word，in public and in privateis onevarying not；and we accept him frankly and with all our hearts.'Since the case is thus，'said the King'bring the Cadi of the Holy Law and all the chamberlains and captains and officers of state before me to-morrowand we will settle the affair on the goodliest wise.'We hear and obey，'answered they and withdrawing，notified all the doctors of the law and the chief Amirs.
Soon the morrowthey came up to the Divan and saluted the Kingwho said to them'O Amirs of Baghdadwhom will ye have to be king over you after methat I may invest him in my lifetimein the presence of you all？'Quoth they all'We are agreed upon thy daughter's husbandHassanson of the Vizier Ali.'If it be so，'said the King'go all of you and bring him before me.'So they all arose and repairing to Hassan's palacesaid to him'Come with us to the King.'Wherefore？'
asked heand they answered'For a thing that will advantage both us and thee.'So he went in with them to the King and kissed the ground before the latterwho bade him be seated and said to him'O Hassanall the Amirs have approved of thee and agreed to make thee king over them after me；and it is my purpose to proclaim theewhilst I yet liveand so make an end of the business.'But Hassan arose and kissing the earth once more before the Kingsaid to him'O our lord the Kingamong the Amirs there be [many] who are older than I and greater of worth；hold me quit therefore of this thing.'Quoth all the Amirs'We consent not but that thou be king over us.'Then said Hassan'My father is older than Iand he and I are one thing；and it befits not to advance me over him.'But Ali said'I will consent to nothing but what is pleasing to my brethren；and they have all chosen and agreed upon thee.