Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Folklore -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
She suffered herself to be prevailed upon. The surgeon conducted her to
his house, and without knowing, as yet, who she was, treated her with
all imaginable courtesy and respect. He used all his endeavours to
comfort her, but it was vain to think of removing her sorrow. "Madam,"
said he to her one day, "be pleased to recount to me your misfortunes;
tell me your country and your condition. Perhaps I may give you some
good advice, when I am acquainted with all the circumstances of your
calamity."
The surgeon's words were so efficacious, that they wrought on the
princess, who recounted to him all her adventures; and when she had
done, the surgeon directed his discourse to her: "Madam," said he, "you
ought not thus to give way to your sorrow; you ought rather to arm
yourself with resolution, and perform what the duty of a wife requires
of you. You are bound to avenge your husband. If you please, I will wait
on you as your attendant. Let us go to the sultan of Harran's court; he
is a good and a just prince. You need only represent to him in lively
colours, how Prince Codadad has been treated by his brothers. I am
persuaded he will do you justice." "I submit to your reasoning,"
answered the princess; "it is my duty to endeavour to avenge Codadad;
and since you are so generous as to offer to attend me, I am ready to
set out." No sooner had she fixed this resolution, than the surgeon
ordered two camels to be made ready, on which the princess and he
mounted, and repaired to Harran.
They alighted at the first caravanserai they found, and inquired of the
host the news at court. "Deryabar," said he, "is in very great
perplexity. The sultan had a son, who lived long with him as a stranger,
and none can tell what is become of the young prince. One of the
sultan's wives, named Pirouze, is his mother; she has made all possible
inquiry, but to no purpose. The sultan has forty-nine other sons, all by
different mothers, but not one of them has virtue enough to comfort him
for the death of Codadad; I say, his death, because it is impossible he
should be still alive, since no intelligence has been heard of him,
notwithstanding so much search has been made."
The surgeon, having heard this account from the host, concluded that the
best course the princess of Deryabar could take was to wait upon
Pirouze; but that step required much precaution: for it was to be feared
that if the sultan of Harran's sons should happen to hear of the arrival
of their sister-in-law and her design, they might cause her to be
conveyed away before she could discover herself. The surgeon weighed all
these circumstances, and therefore, that he might manage matters with
discretion, desired the princess to remain in the caravanserai, whilst
he repaired to the palace, to observe which might be the safest way to
conduct her to Pirouze.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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