The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 09 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 09 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
She continued: It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the monarch
of Outer Hind, after making ready his presents, despatched them to King
Wird Khan with an escort of an hundred horse, who fared on till they
came to his court and saluting him, presented letter and gifts. The
King read the writ and lodged the leader of the escort in a befitting
place, entreating him with honour and accepting the presents he
presented. So the news of this was bruited abroad among the folk and
the King rejoiced therein with joy exceeding. Then he sent for the boy,
the son of Shimas, and the Captain of the hundred horse; and,
entreating the young Wazir with honour, gave him the letter to read;
whilst he himself blamed the King's conduct to the Captain who kissed
his hands and made his excuses to him, offering up prayers for the
continuance of his life and the permanence of his prosperity. The King
thanked him for this and bestowed upon him honours and largesse and
gave to all his men what befitted them and made ready presents to send
by them and bade the boy Wazir indite an answer to their King's letter.
So the boy wrote a reply, wherein, after an address[FN#180] beautiful
exceedingly, he touched briefly on the question of reconciliation and
praised the good breeding of the envoy and of his mounted men, and
showed it, when duly finished, to the King who said to him, "Read it, O
thou dear boy, that we may know what is written[FN#181] therein." So
the boy read the letter in the presence of the hundred horse, and the
King and all present marvelled at its ordinance of style and sense.
Then the King sealed the letter and delivering it to the Captain of the
hundred horse, dismissed him with some of his own troops, to escort him
as far as the frontier of his country. The Captain returned, confounded
in mind at that which he had seen of the boy's knowledge and thanking
Allah for the speedy accomplishment of his errand and the acceptance of
peace, to the King of Outer Hind. Then going in to the presence, he
delivered the presents and handed to him the letter, telling him what
he had seen and heard, whereat the King rejoiced with joy exceeding and
rendered lauds to his Lord the Most High and honoured the Captain
commending his care and zeal and advancing him in rank. And from that
hour he woned in peace and tranquillity and all happiness. As for King
Wird Khan, he returned to the paths of righteousness, abandoning his
evil ways and repenting to Allah with sincere penitence; and he gave up
womanising altogether and applied himself wholly to the ordering of the
affairs of his realm and the governance of his people in the fear of
Allah. Furthermore, he made the son of Shimas Wazir in his father's
stead, and the chief after himself in his realm and keeper of his
secrets and bade decorate his capital for seven days and likewise the
other cities of his kingdom. At this the subjects rejoiced and fear and
alarm ceased from them and they were glad in the prospect of justice
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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