Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Folklore -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
The sultan of Harran, who had attentively observed all that passed,
admired the bravery of this strange body of cavalry, whose unexpected
arrival had given the victory to his army. But, above all, he was
charmed with their chief, whom he had seen fighting with a more than
ordinary valour. He longed to know the name of the generous hero.
Impatient to see and thank him, he advanced toward him, but perceived he
was coming to prevent him. The two princes drew near, and the sultan of
Harran, discovering Codadad in the brave warrior who had just defeated
his enemies, became motionless with joy and surprise. "Father," said
Codadad to him, "you have sufficient cause to be astonished at the
sudden appearance of a man whom perhaps you concluded to be dead. I
should have been so, had not Heaven preserved me still to serve you
against your enemies." "O my son," cried the sultan, "is it possible
that you are restored to me? Alas! I despaired of seeing you more." So
saying, he stretched out his arms to the young prince, who flew to such
a tender embrace.
"I know all, my son," said the sultan again, after having long held him
in his arms. "I know what return your brothers have made you for
delivering them out of the hands of the black; but you shall be revenged
to-morrow. Let us now go to the palace where your mother, who has shed
so many tears on your account, expects to rejoice with us on the defeat
of our enemies. What a joy will it be to her to be informed that my
victory is your work!" "Sir," said Codadad, "give me leave to ask how
you could know the adventure of the castle? Have any of my brothers,
repenting, owned it to you?" "No," answered the sultan; "the princess of
Deryabar has given us an account of everything, for she is in my palace,
and came thither to demand justice against your brothers." Codadad was
transported with joy, to learn that the princess his wife was at the
court. "Let us go, sir," cried he to his father in rapture, "let us go
to my mother, who waits for us. I am impatient to dry her tears, as well
as those of the princess of Deryabar."
The sultan immediately returned to the city with his army, and
re-entered his palace victorious, amidst the acclamations of the people,
who followed him in crowds, praying to Heaven to prolong his life, and
extolling Codadad to the skies. They found Pirouze and her
daughter-in-law waiting to congratulate the sultan; but words cannot
express the transports of joy they felt when they saw the young prince
with him: their embraces were mingled with tears of a very different
kind from those they had before shed for him. When they had sufficiently
yielded to all the emotions that the ties of blood and love inspired,
they asked Codadad by what miracle he came to be still alive.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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