Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 1.djvu/205

185 before the Sultan. At last the latter became wroth with him and made one of his chamberlains Vizier in his stead and bade him seize on all Noureddin’s houses and goods and possessions and seal them up. So the new Vizier went forth to do this and take Bedreddin Hassan and bring him before the Sultan, that he might deal with him as he thought fit. Now there was among the troops one who had been a servant of the deceased Vizier, and when he heard this order he spurred his steed and rode at full speed to Bedreddin’s house, where he found him sitting at the gate, with downcast head, broken-hearted. So he dismounted and kissing his hand, said to him, “O my lord and son of my lord, hasten, ere destruction light on thee!” When Bedreddin heard this, he trembled and said, “What is the matter?” “The Sultan is wroth with thee,” answered the other, “and has given orders for thine arrest, and calamity follows hard upon me, so flee for thy life.” Quoth Bedreddin, “Is there time for me to go in and take somewhat to stand me in stead in my strangerhood?” But the other answered, “O my lord, rise at once and save thyself whilst it is yet time, and leave thy house.” So Bedreddin covered his face with his skirt and went out and walked on till he came without the city. On his way, he heard the people saying that the Sultan had sent the new Vizier to the late Vizier’s house, to seize on his possessions and take his son Bedreddin Hassan and bring him before him, that he might put him to death, and they grieved for him by reason of his beauty and grace. When he heard this, he fled forth at hazard, not knowing whither, and chance led him to the cemetery where his father was buried. So he passed among the tombs, till he came to his father’s sepulchre and entering, sat down and let fall from over his head the skirt of his cassock, which was made of brocade, with the following lines embroidered in gold on the hem: