Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/356

322 but that I flee with him to his own country.” Then she gathered together her wealth and treasures and sent to him, acquainting him with her resolve, to the intent that he also might equip himself; and they agreed upon a night on which to depart. So, at the appointed time, they mounted swift horses and set out under cover of the night, nor did day break till they had traversed a great distance; and they fared on till they drew near his father’s capital in the land of the Persians. When the king heard of his son’s coming, he came out to meet him with his troops and rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy. Then, after a few days, he sent the princess’s father a splendid present, with a letter to the effect that his daughter was with him and demanding her wedding equipage. Ed Detma’s father received the messengers with exceeding joy, (for that he had deemed his daughter lost and had grieved sore for her loss,) and invested them with robes of honour; after which he made bride-feasts and summoning the Cadi and the witnesses, let draw up the marriage contract between his daughter and the prince of Persia. Then he made ready her equipage and despatched it to her, and Prince Behram abode with her till death sundered them. See, therefore, O King,’ continued the favourite, ‘the malice of men in their dealing with women. As for me, I will not go back from my due till I die.’ So the King once more commanded to put his son to death; but the seventh vizier came in to him and kissing the earth before him, said, ‘O King, have patience with me whilst I speak words of good counsel to thee; for he who is patient and acteth deliberately attaineth unto his hope audand [sic] enjoyeth his desire, but whoso acteth hastily, repentance overtaketh him. Now I have seen how this damsel hath profligately striven to abuse the King and incite him to unnatural cruelties; but I his slave, whom he hath overwhelmed with his favours and bounties, do proffer him true and loyal