The translation was carried out at the request of Frederick of Castile, brother of king Alfonso X, from an unidentified Arabic version, although similar stories were already circulating in Europe in Latin works such as Petrus Alfonsi's Disciplina clericalis.
While the prince is enduring his self-imposed silence, however, one of his father's favourite wives takes him aside and suggests that they should murder the king, marry, and rule together.
In his anger, the prince breaks his silence to threaten to expose her at the end of the seven days, whereupon his stepmother accuses him of attempting to violate her, which causes the king to order his execution.
The sages tell a total of thirteen tales: nine portray the wiles of women, three the dangers of precipitate action, and only one the wisdom of a virtuous wife.
Finally, on the eighth day, the prince speaks, exposing his stepmother's treachery, and tells five tales to demonstrate the success of his education from Sindibad.