Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 1.djvu/176

154 Now the king of the Greeks heard tell of the damsel and of the beauty and grace wherewith she was gifted, wherefore his heart clave to her and he sent to seek her in marriage of Suleiman Shah, who could not refuse him. So he arose and going in to Shah Khatoun, said to her, ‘O my daughter, the king of the Greeks hath sent to me to seek thee in marriage. What sayst thou?’ She wept and answered, saying, ‘O king, how canst thou find it in thy heart to bespeak me thus? Abideth there husband for me, after the son of my uncle?’ ‘O my daughter,’ rejoined the king, ‘it is indeed as thou sayest; but let us look to the issues of affairs. Needs must I take account of death, for that I am an old man and fear not but for thee and for thy little son; and indeed I have written to the king of the Greeks and others of the kings and said, “His uncle slew him,” and said not that he [hath recovered and] is living, but concealed his affair. Now hath the king of the Greeks sent to demand thee in marriage, and this is no thing to be refused and fain would we have our back strengthened with him.’ And she was silent and spoke not.

So King Suleiman Shah made answer unto Cæsar with ‘Hearkening and obedience.’ Then he arose and despatched her to him, and Cæsar went in to her and found her overpassing the description wherewithal they had described her to him; wherefore he loved her with an exceeding love and preferred her over all his women and his love for Suleiman Shah was magnified; but Shah