When the grand vizier had made an end of this kind and generous
proposal, Nourreddin Ali fell at his feet, and expressing himself in
terms that demonstrated his joy and gratitude, told the vizier that
he was at his command in every thing. Upon this the vizier sent for
his chief domestics, ordered them to furnish the great hall of his
palace, and prepare a great feast: he afterwards sent to invite the
nobility of the court and city to honour him with their company; and
when they were all met, (Nourreddin Ali having now told him who he
was,) he said to those lords, for he thought it proper to speak thus
on purpose to satisfy such of them to whom he had refused his
alliance, --I am now, my lords, to discover a thing to you which
hitherto I have kept secret. I have a brother, who is grand vizier
to the sultan of Egypt, as I am to the sultan of this kingdom. This
brother has but one son, whom he would not marry in the court of
Egypt, but sent him hither to marry my daughter, that both our
branches may be re-united. His son, whom I knew to be my nephew as
soon as I saw him, is the young gentleman I here present to you, and
is to be my son-in-law. I hope you will do me the honour to be
present at this wedding, which I am resolved to celebrate this day.
The noblemen, who could not take it ill that he preferred his nephew
before all the great matches that had been proposed to him, said
that he had very good reason for what he did, were willing to be
witnesses to the ceremony, and wished that God might prolong his
days to enjoy the satisfaction of the happy match.
The lords met at the vizier of Balsora’s house, having testified
their satisfaction at the marriage of his daughter with Nourreddin
Ali, sat down to dinner, which lasted a long while; and the latter
course was sweetmeats, of which every one, according to custom, took
what they thought fit. The notaries came in with the marriage
contract, the chief lords signed it, and when the company departed,
the grand vizier ordered his servants to prepare a bath, and had
every thing in readiness for Nourreddin Ali to bathe. He had fine
new linen, and every thing else provided for him in the most curious
manner. When he had washed and dried himself, he was going to put on
his former apparel, but had an extraordinary rich suit brought him.
Being dressed and perfumed with the most odoriferous essences, he
went to see the grand vizier, his father-in-law, who was exceedingly
well pleased with his genteel mien; and having made him sit down, My
son, said he, you have declared unto me who you are, and the quality
you had at the court of Egypt. You have also told me of a difference
betwixt you and your brother, which occasioned you to leave your
country. I desire you to make me your entire confidant, and to
acquaint me with the cause of your quarrel; for now you have no
reason either to doubt me, or to conceal any thing from me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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