Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Folklore -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
On that day all the inhabitants of the city went out upon the plain to
see the ceremony performed. The gate of the dome was then closed, and
all the people returned to the city. Next day there were public prayers
in all the mosques, and the same was continued for eight days
successively. On the ninth the king resolved to cause the princes his
sons to be beheaded. The people, incensed at their cruelty toward
Codadad, impatiently expected to see them executed. The scaffolds were
erecting, but the execution was respited, because, on a sudden,
intelligence was brought that the neighbouring princes who had before
made war on the sultan of Harran, were advancing with more numerous
forces than on the first invasion, and were then not far from the city.
This news gave new cause to lament the loss of Codadad, who had
signalised himself in the former war against the same enemies. The
sultan, nothing dismayed, formed a considerable army, and being too
brave to await the enemies' attack within his walls, marched out to meet
them. They, on their side, being informed that the sultan of Harran was
marching to engage them, halted in the plain, and formed their army.
As soon as the sultan discovered them, he also drew up his forces, and
ranged them in order of battle. The signal was given, and he attacked
them with extraordinary vigour; nor was the opposition inferior. Much
blood was shed on both sides, and the victory long remained dubious; but
at length it seemed to incline to the sultan of Harran's enemies, who,
being more numerous, were upon the point of surrounding him, when a
great body of cavalry appeared on the plain, and approached the two
armies. The sight of this fresh party daunted both sides, neither
knowing what to think of them; but their doubts were soon cleared; for
they fell upon the flank of the sultan of Harran's enemies with such a
furious charge, that they soon broke and routed them. Nor did they stop
here; they pursued them, and cut most of them in pieces.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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