Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
Notwithstanding the excellence of this advice, the sultan was unable
to follow it. “What,” said he, furiously, “is it possible that
the sultana of the Indies is capable of such base prostitution? No,
no, my brother, I cannot believe what you have told me, unless I
were to see it myself. It is a deception; you have been imposed
upon; and it is too important a matter not to require positive
proof.”--“If,” replied Schahzenan, “you wish to be witness
to the fact, it will not be difficult to accomplish it. You have
only to give orders for another hunting party, and after we have
both left the city, with the court in our train, we will remain in
our pavilions during the day, and at night we will return alone into
my apartment. I am too certain that you will, during the next day,
observe what I have before seen.” The sultan approved of the plan,
and immediately ordered the party, so that the pavilions were
erected that very day in the appointed place.
The two princes set out on the following morning with all their
train. They arrived at the camp, and remained there till night.
Schahriar then called his grand vizier, and without discovering his
intention, commanded him to take his place during his absence, and
to suffer no person to leave the camp upon any account whatever. As
soon as the sultan had given these orders, he and his brother got on
their horses, passed unknown through the camp, entered the city, and
went directly to the palace occupied by Schahzenan. They then
retired to rest, but rose early in the morning, and took their
station at the same window where the king of Tartary had observed
the former scene with the blacks. They enjoyed the freshness of the
morning, for the sun had not yet risen; and during their
conversation they frequently cast their eyes towards the secret
door. At length it was opened, and to sum up all in a few words, the
sultana, with her women, and the ten disguised blacks, instantly
appeared, and having called Masoud, the sultan was soon too fatally
convinced of his disgraceful misfortune. “Oh God!” he cried,
“what indignity, what horror! is it possible, that the wife of so
powerful a sovereign as I am, can be capable of such infamy. What
prince, after this, can dare to call himself happy. Ah, my
brother,” added he, embracing him, “let us renounce the world;
fidelity is banished from it, and if it flatters us one moment, it
betrays us the next. Let us leave our dominions and all the pomp
that surrounds us, and in foreign kingdoms pass an obscure life, and
endeavour to conceal our disgrace.” Schahzenan did not approve of
this plan; but seeing the agony which his brother was then in, he
dared not oppose it. “I have no other will than yours, my
brother,” replied he, “I am ready to follow you wherever you
please; but promise me, that you will return whenever you meet with
any one who shall be more unfortunate than we are.”--“I do
promise you,” replied the sultan, “but I very much doubt whether
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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