The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 08 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 08 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
whatso thou tellest me of the marvels which this man hath seen and
suffered; and none may fail of respect to him. But was all this on
thine account, O my sister?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day
and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night,
She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Princess
Manar al-Sana repeated to her sister these praises of Hasan, the other
replied, "By Allah, this man can claim all respect more by token of his
generosity. But was all this on thine account?" "Yes," answered Manar
al-Sana, and they passed the night in converse till the morning
morrowed and the sun rose and they were minded to depart. So they
farewelled one another and Manar al-Sana gave God-speed to the ancient
dame after the reconciling her with Queen Nur al-Huda. Thereupon Hasan
smote the earth with the rod and its servants the Jinn appeared and
saluted him, saying, "Praised be Allah, who hath set thy soul at rest!
Command us what thou wilt, and we will do it for thee in less than the
twinking of an eye." He thanked them for their saying and said to them
"Allah requite you with good! Saddle me two steeds of the best." So
they brought him forthwith two saddled coursers, one of which he
mounted, taking his elder son before him, and his wife rode the other,
taking the younger son in front of her. Then the Queen and the old
woman also backed horse and departed, Hasan and his wife following the
right and Nur al-Huda and Shawahi the left hand road. The spouses
fared on with their children, without stopping, for a whole month, till
they drew in sight of a city, which they found compassed about with
trees and streams and making the trees dismounted beneath them thinking
to rest there. As they sat talking, behold, they saw many horsemen
coming towards them, whereupon Hasan rose and going to meet them, saw
that it was King Hassun, lord of the Land of Camphor and Castle of
Crystal, with his attendants. So Hasan went up to the King and kissed
his hands and saluted him; and when Hassun saw him, he dismounted and
seating himself with Hasan upon carpets under the trees returned his
salam and gave him joy of his safety and rejoiced in him with exceeding
joy, saying to him, "O Hasan, tell me all that hath befallen thee,
first and last." So he told him all of that, whereupon the King
marvelled and said to him, "O my son, none ever reached the Islands of
Wak and returned thence but thou, and indeed thy case is wondrous; but
Alhamdolillah—praised be God—for safety!" Then he mounted and bade
Hasan ride with his wife and children into the city, where he lodged
them in the guest-house of his palace; and they abode with him three
days, eating and drinking in mirth and merriment, after which Hasan
sought Hassun's leave to depart to his own country and the King granted
it. Accordingly they took horse and the King rode with them ten days,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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