Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/100

80 Mountain and his stronghold, he was sore chagrined and said, “Except I depart hence, Gherib will come and take my daughter Mehdiyeh without dower.” So he took his daughter and his goods and set out with his tribe for Irak, where he entered the city of Cufa and put himself under the protection of King Agib, seeking to give him his daughter to wife.’ When Gherib heard his brother’s story, he well-nigh gave up the ghost for rage and said, ‘By the virtue of the faith of submission, the faith of Abraham the Friend, and by the Supreme Lord, I will assuredly go to the land of Irak and make fierce war upon it.’

Then they returned to the city and going in to the King, kissed the earth before him. He rose to Gherib and saluted Sehim; after which the former told him what had happened and he put ten captains at his command, under each one’s hand ten thousand horse of the stoutest of the Persians and the Arabs, who equipped themselves and were ready to depart at the end of three days. Then Gherib set out and journeyed till he reached the Castle of Sasa, where the Ghoul and his sons came forth to meet him and dismounting, kissed his feet in the stirrups. He told them all that had passed and the Ghoul said, ‘O my lord, do thou abide in this castle, whilst I repair to Irak with my sons and servants and lay waste town and hamlet and bring thee all its defenders bound hand and foot.’ But Gherib thanked him and said, ‘O Saadan, we will all go.’ So they all made ready and set out for Irak, leaving a thousand horse to guard the castle.

Meanwhile, Merdas arrived at the city of Cufa and going in to Agib, kissed the earth before him and wished him what is usually wished to kings. Then he made him a handsome present, saying, ‘O my lord, I come to throw myself on thy protection.’ ‘Tell me who hath wronged thee,’ answered Agib, ‘that I may protect thee against him, though it were Sabour, King of the Persians and