Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
After Noureddin Ali had left Cairo with the intention of never
revisiting it, Schemseddin Mohammed, his elder brother, who was gone
with the sultan on the hunting-party, returning at the end of a
month (for the sultan being passionately fond of hunting had been
absent thus Long,) ran into the apartment of Noureddin Ali; but what
was his surprise on being informed that he had left Cairo under
pretence of making a journey of four or five days, that he set off
on a mule on the very day of the hunting-party of the sultan, and
that since that time he had never been seen or heard of. Schemseddin
was the more chagrined at this intelligence, as he accused himself
of having been the cause of his brother’s absenting himself by the
harsh words which had passed between them. He dispatched a courier,
who passed through Damascus, and went on to Aleppo; but Noureddin
Ali was at that time at Balsora. When the courier returned without
bringing any tidings of him, Schemseddin Mohammed determined to send
in other parts to seek for him, but in the meantime he formed the
design of marrying. He made choice of the daughter of one of the
most powerful grandees of Cairo, and was united to her on the same
day that his brother married the daughter of the grand vizier of
Balsora.
But this is not all (continued Giafar;) I will now tell you,
Commander of the Faithful, what happened afterwards. At the
expiration of nine months the wife of Schemseddin Mohammed was
delivered of a daughter at Cairo, and on the same day the wife of
Noureddin Ali at Balsora brought into the world a boy, who was named
Bedreddin Hassan. The grand vizier of Balsora testified his joy by
great presents and public rejoicings, which he ordered on the birth
of his grandson. He afterwards, to prove his affection for Noureddin
Ali, went to the palace to entreat the sultan to grant him the
reversion of his office, that he might have the satisfaction, before
he died, of seeing his son-in-law in his place.
The sultan, who had seen Noureddin Ali immediately after his
marriage, and had heard him spoken of favourably since that time,
readily granted the favour which was requested of him; and he
ordered him to be robed in his presence in the dress of grand vizier.
The happiness of the father-in-law was complete, when he saw
Noureddin Ali preside at the council in his place, and perform all
the functions of grand vizier. Noureddin Ali acquitted himself so
well, that he appeared to have exercised that office all his life.
He continued to assist at the council, whenever the infirmities of
age would not allow his father-in-law to be present. This good old
man died four years after this marriage, with the satisfaction of
seeing a branch of his family, who promised to sustain the honour
and credit of it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account