Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/128

106 servants, of those who had been of the prince’s company in the chase, and one of them was he whom he had left by the horses, when he embarked in the fishing-boat. As soon as they saw Janshah, they knew him and saluted him; then said they, ‘With thy leave, we will go to thy father and bear him the glad tidings of thy coming.’ ‘Go,’ replied the prince, ‘and fetch us tents, for we will abide here seven days to rest ourselves, till he make ready and come forth to meet us, that we may enter in due state.’ So the officers hastened back to King Teigmous and said to him, ‘Good news, O King of the age!’ ‘What is it?’ asked he. ‘Is my son Janshah come back?’ ‘Yes,’ answered they; ‘he has returned from his absence and is now near at hand in the Kerani meadow.’

When the King heard this, he rejoiced greatly and fell down in a swoon for excess of joy; then, coming to himself, he bade his Vizier give each of the men a splendid dress of honour and a sum of money and said to them, ‘Take this, in reward for your good tidings, whether ye lie or speak sooth.’ ‘Indeed, we lie not,’ replied the slaves, ‘for but now we sat with him and saluted him and kissed his hands, and he bade us go and fetch him tents, [sic] for that he would abide in the meadow seven days, till such time as the Viziers and Amirs and grandees should come out to meet him.’ Quoth the King, ‘How is it with my son?’ And they answered, ‘He hath with him a houri, as he had brought her out of Paradise.’ At this, the King bade beat the drums and sound the trumpets for gladness and despatched messengers to announce the good news to Janshah’s mother and to the wives of the Amirs and notables. So the criers spread themselves about the city and acquainted the people with the glad tidings of the prince’s coming.

Then the King made ready and setting out, with his officers and troops, for the meadow, came upon Janshah