The unfortunate Schahzenan went to bed; and though the conversation
of his brother had suspended his grief for some time, it returned
upon him with more violence; so that, instead of taking his
necessary rest, he tormented himself with cruel reflections. All the
circumstances of his wife’s disloyalty presented themselves afresh
to his imagination, in so lively a manner, that he was like one
beside himself. In a word, not being able to sleep, he got up, and
giving himself over to afflicting thoughts, they made such an
impression upon his countenance, that the sultan could not but take
notice of it, and said thus to himself: What can be the matter with
the king of Tartary, that he is so melancholy? Has he any cause to
complain of his reception? No, surely; I have received him as a
brother whom I love, so that I can charge myself with no omission in
that respect. Perhaps it grieves him to be at such a distance from
his dominions, or from the queen his wife. Alas! if that be the
matter, I must forthwith give him the presents I designed for him,
that he may return to Samarcande when he pleases. Accordingly, next
day Schahriar sent him part of those presents, being the greatest
rarities and the richest things that the Indies could afford. At the
same time he endeavoured to divert his brother every day, by new
objects of pleasure, and the finest treats; which, instead of giving
the king of Tartary any ease, only increased his sorrow.
One day, Schahriar, having appointed a great hunting match, about
two days’ journey from his capital, in a place that abounded with
deer, Schahzenan prayed him to excuse him, for his health would not
allow him to bear him company. The sultan, unwilling to put any
constraint upon him, left him at his liberty, and went a hunting
with his nobles. The king of Tartary being thus left alone, shut
himself up in his apartment, and sat down at a window that looked
into the garden. That delicious place, and the sweet harmony of an
infinite number of birds which chose it for a place of retreat, must
certainly have diverted him, had he been capable of taking pleasure
in any thing; but being perpetually tormented with the fatal
remembrance of his queen’s infamous conduct, his eyes were not so
often fixed upon the garden, as lifted up to heaven to bewail his
misfortunes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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