Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 2.djvu/382

345 there appeared a troop of armed cavaliers. Now King Sasan had heard of Kanmakan’s going out and sending for an Amir of the Medes, called Jami, and twenty men, had given them money and bidden them slay Kanmakan. So, when they drew near the prince, they rushed at him and he met them in mid-career and killed them all, to the last man. Meanwhile the King took horse and riding out to meet his men, found them all slain, whereat he wondered and turned back; but the people of the city laid hands on him and bound him straitly. As for Kanmakan, he left that place behind him and rode onward with Subbah. As he went, he saw a youth sitting at the door of a house in his road and saluted him. The youth returned his greeting and going into the house, brought out two platters, one full of milk and the other of brewis swimming in (clarified) butter, which he set before Kanmakan, saying, “Favour me by eating of my victual.” But he refused and the young man said to him, “What ails thee, O man, that thou wilt not eat?” “I have a vow upon me,” replied the prince. “What is the cause of thy vow?” asked the youth, and Kanmakan answered, “Know that King Sasan seized upon my kingdom wrongfully and oppressively, albeit it was my father’s and my grandfather’s before me; yet he laid hands upon the throne by force, after my father’s death, and took no count of me, for that I was of tender years. So I have bound myself by a vow to eat no man’s victual, till I have eased my heart of my enemy.” “Rejoice,” rejoined the youth, “for God hath fulfilled thy vow. Know that he is in prison and methinks he will soon die.” “In what house is he imprisoned?” asked Kanmakan. “In yonder high pavilion,” answered the other. The prince looked and saw the folk entering and buffeting Sasan, who was suffering the agonies of death. So he went up to the pavilion and noted what was therein; after which he returned to his place and