Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales; Folklore -- Arab countries
The princess of Deryabar found the king at the palace gate, waiting to
receive her. He took her by the hand, and led her to Pirouze’s apartment,
where a very moving scene was acted among them. Codadad’s wife found her
affliction redouble upon her at the sight of her husband’s father and
mother; as, on the other side, those parents could not look on their
son’s wife without being much concerned. She cast herself at the king’s
feet, and having bathed them with tears, was so overcome with grief, that
she was not able to speak one word. Pirouze was in no better condition;
she seemed to be stunned with her sorrows; and the king, moved by those
dismal objects, gave way to his passion: those three persons, mixing
their tears and sighs, for some time observed a silence, which appeared
extraordinary moving and pitiful. At length the princess of Deryabar,
being somewhat recovered, recounted the adventure of the castle and
Codadad’s disaster. Then she required justice for the treachery of the
princes. Yes, madam, said the king to her, those ungrateful wretches
shall perish, but Codadad’s death must first be made public, that the
punishment of his brothers may not cause my subjects to rebel; and,
though we have not my son’s body, we will not omit paying him the last
duties. This said, he directed his discourse to the vizier, and ordered
him to build a dome of white marble in a delightful plain, in the midst
of which the city of Harran stands; then he appointed the princess of
Deryabar a fine apartment in his palace, acknowledging her for his
daughter-in-law.
Hassan caused the work to be carried on with such diligence, and employed
so many workmen, that the dome was soon finished. Within it was erected a
monument, and on it was placed a figure representing Codadad. As soon as
all was perfected, the king ordered prayers to be said, and appointed a
day for the obsequies of his son.
On that day, all the inhabitants of the city went out upon the plain to
see that ceremony performed; which was after this manner. The king,
attended by his vizier and the prime persons of the court, proceeded
towards the dome; and being come to it, went in, and sat down with them
on carpets laid on the ground, made of black satin, with gold flowers. A
great body of horse guards, hanging their heads, and looking down, drew
up close about the dome, and marched round it twice, observing a profound
silence; but at the third round, they halted before the door, and all of
them with a loud voice pronounced these words: ‘O prince, son to the
king, could we by dint of sword and human valour any way retrieve your
misfortune, we would bring you back to life; but the King of kings has
commanded, and the angel of death has obeyed.’ Having uttered these
words, they drew off, to make way for a hundred old men, all of them
mounted on black mules, and wearing long gray beards.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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