One of the kings had an intelligent son named Sa’id. The king’s happiest moments were those when he sat with his son and told him about the heroism of his soldiers and his courage. The prince would spend hours listening to his father. He would be very annoyed if anyone interrupted these pleasant sessions with his father the king.
But the king’s burdens were many, so he had to meet his soldiers and officers to ensure the kingdom’s affairs were in order. The king always advised his son and said to him, “You must have friends, O Sa’id.” Sa’id asked him one day, “How do I choose my true friend, Father?” His father said to him, “You must test the one you befriend to be sure of his love and sincerity toward you. There is a funny test you can do.
Invite whom you think is suitable to be your friend to a breakfast meal here in the palace, and before presenting the food to him, boil three eggs and present them to him to see how he will act in this matter. Indeed, the son began to try this funny test. Some of those he invited for breakfast would be annoyed by the waiting and would shout, demanding food. Others would not have patience but would leave the house in anger.
Among Prince Sa’id’s companions was the vizier’s son, a boy named Adil. The prince thought he was a good and sincere boy, so he decided to test him. He invited him to breakfast with him in the palace and presented him with the three eggs. Adil was astonished and said to him, “Is this all the breakfast? It is not enough for me alone.” After that, Adil left angrily. Prince Sa’id did not feel sorry for him because he criticized the food and proved he was not content.
The turn came to the son of the great merchants. Sa’id invited him to breakfast with him in the palace. The boy imagined a large banquet for himself and had not eaten dinner the previous night. When he reached the palace, Sa’id brought him the three eggs. When he went to bring bread, he found his friend had eaten all the eggs. He was astonished and said to him, “Did you eat all the eggs?” The son of the great merchant said, “They are only three eggs, no more!”
Sa’id said in anger, “But it is the breakfast food for both of us.” The merchant’s son was astonished and said, “How can this be a banquet for the king’s son?” After that, the prince left, sad because he discovered that his friends did not deserve his friendship. He went out walking alone in the forest. While he was doing so, he saw a boy wearing some simple clothes, showing signs of poverty and intelligence. He knew he was the woodcutter’s son, so Sa’id asked him to play with him and befriend him.
But the woodcutter’s son apologized and said, “I don’t think this is appropriate. I am, as you see, the son of the poor woodcutter, and you are the son of the rich king.” Sa’id said to him, “Why don’t we try?” The woodcutter’s son agreed to Prince Sa’id’s words but conditioned that they be equal as loyal friends in everything. The prince agreed to the woodcutter’s son’s condition. Indeed, the two began to go out together and play together.
The prince learned many matters of hunting and how to use the bow and defend himself against predatory animals from his new friend. They would spend pleasant time together that made Sa’id feel that he had finally found his true friend. But he wanted to test him as he had done with his old friends, so he invited him the next day to breakfast with him in the palace. The woodcutter’s son agreed but on the condition that the prince would also come to his hut and eat his food.
The prince agreed and promised to go with him on a later day. When the woodcutter’s son entered the palace, he sat quietly waiting for the food. When Prince Sa’id placed the eggs and went to bring bread, the woodcutter’s son waited until he returned, then they began eating the food together. Each of them took an egg and ate it, so one egg remained in the plate. Prince Sa’id waited to see what his new friend would do. The woodcutter’s son extended his hand, peeled the egg, then divided it into two halves, took one half, and gave the other to Prince Sa’id.
Sa’id rejoiced because he had finally found the contented friend. He immediately embraced the woodcutter’s son and said to him, “You are my true friend.” After that, the two boys grew up together, and the friendship between them grew. When Prince Sa’id took over the rule of the country and became king, the first minister he chose was his loyal childhood friend; the woodcutter’s son. He was to him a good friend and a faithful, honest advisor.