In one of the ancient kingdoms, there lived an unhappy king with much fat and flesh. He suffered greatly from his increased weight. He gathered the wise men to seek a solution to his problem, for he couldn’t walk or move much. Pain and ailments accompanied him, and the king lived in misery and torment because of his ailing body.
Unfortunately, none of the wise men could do anything for the king, so he was overcome with grief and worry, living in unhappiness that spread throughout the entire kingdom. Until a wise physician came to the kingdom. When the king learned of him, he summoned him and asked him to cure him of his condition, in exchange for bestowing upon him money and gifts.
The wise physician said: May God correct the king. I am only an astrologer doctor. Let me look at your horoscope tonight to know the type of medicine that suits you. The king left him and gave him a deadline until morning. When morning came, he went to the king and asked him to give him security before uttering anything.
The king granted him security, then he said: My lord king, I looked at your horoscope and was horrified by what I saw. It appeared to me that no time remains like what has passed. Your horoscope revealed one month remaining in your life.
If you choose, I will cure you of obesity. If you want to verify the truth of my words, imprison me until you are certain. If my words are true, pardon me, and if they are false, increase my imprisonment. The king imprisoned him and was overcome with great grief at what he heard.
Afterward, the king secluded himself from people and remained alone. He also lost his appetite for food and drink. With each day that passed of the fated month, the king became sadder and more grieved until his flesh wasted away and his bones protruded. The king remained in this state until twenty-eight days of the month had passed. Then he decided to release the physician before his time came.
But when the physician came out, he stood before him and said: May God exalt our lord king. I am only a weak servant among God’s servants. Far be it from God that I should know the unseen. By God, I do not know my own age, so how would I have knowledge of your age? But I searched and found no medicine that melts fat and erases flesh except grief.
I couldn’t bring grief to you except through this trick. Therefore, I ask you to forgive me for my action, through which I hoped for good for you and your kingdom. The king laughed, his face brightened, and he rewarded him for his deed, treating him with the utmost kindness.