Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales; Folklore -- Arab countries
I know all, my son, said the king again, after having long held him in
his arms; I know what return my sons have made you for the service you
did in delivering them out of the hands of the black; but you shall be
revenged to-morrow. Let us now go to the palace; your mother, who has
wept sufficiently for you, expects me, to rejoice with us for the defeat
of our enemies. What a joy will it be to her to be informed that my
victory is your handy-work! Sir, said Codadad, give me leave to ask you,
how could you come to know the adventure of the castle? Has any of my
brothers, repenting, owned the thing to you? No, answered the king, the
princess of Deryabar has given us an account of all things; for she is in
my palace, and came thither to demand justice against your brothers.
Codadad was in a transport of joy to understand that the princess his
wife was at the court. Let us go, sir, cried he to his father in a
rapture, let us go to see my mother, who waits for us. I have an ardent
desire to dry up her tears, as well as those of the princess of Deryabar.
The king immediately returned to the city, with his army, which he
dismissed; entering his palace victorious, amidst the acclamations of his
people, who followed him in crowds, praying to Heaven to prolong his
life, and extolling Codadad to the skies. These two princes found Pirouze
and her daughter-in-law waiting for the king to congratulate him; but
there is no expressing the transport of joy they felt when they saw the
young prince come with him: they dissolved in embraces, mixed with tears,
but of a different sort from those they had before shed for him. When
these four persons had performed all that the ties of blood and love
demanded of them, the question was asked of Pirouze’s son, by what
miracle he came to be still alive. He answered, that a peasant, mounted
on a mule, happening accidentally to come into the tent where he lay
senseless, and perceiving him alone, and stabbed in several places, had
made him fast on his mule, and carried him to his house, where he applied
to his wounds certain herbs chewed, which had recovered him in a few
days. When I found myself well, added he, I returned thanks to the
peasant, and gave him all the diamonds I had. Then I drew near the city
of Harran; but being informed by the way that some neighbouring princes
had gathered forces, and were coming to fall upon the king’s subjects, I
made myself known unto the villagers, and stirred up those people to
stand upon their guard. I armed a good number of young men; and heading
them, happened to come in at that time when the two armies were engaged.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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