Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/122

104 should lay hold of one of the planks, which I bestrode, and it bore me along two days, for the wind had fallen fair again, and I paddled with my feet awhile, till God the Most High brought me safe to shore and I landed and came to this city, where I found myself a stranger, alone and friendless. And indeed I knew not what to do; for hunger was sore upon me and I was in great straits.

So I hid myself and pulling off my tunic, carried it to the market, saying in myself, “I will sell it and live on its price, till God accomplish His will of me.” Then I took the tunic in my hand and cried it for sale, and the folk were looking at it and bidding for it, when, O my brother, thou camest up and seeing me, commandest me to the palace; but thine attendants took me and carried me to prison, where I abode till thou bethoughtest thee of me and badst bring me before thee. So now I have told thee what befell me, and praised be God for reunion!’

The two kings marvelled exceedingly at Saïd’s story and Taj el Mulouk made ready a goodly dwelling for Seif el Mulouk and his vizier. [So they took up their abode therein] and Dauleh Khatoun used to visit Seif el Mulouk there and thank him for his favours and talk with him. One day, he foregathered with her and said to her, ‘O my lady, where is the promise thou madest me, in the palace of Japhet son of Noah, saying, “Were I with my people, I would make shift to bring thee to thy desire?”’ And Saïd said to her, ‘O princess, I crave thine aid to enable him to compass his desire.’ ‘It is well,’ answered she. ‘I will do my endeavour for him, that he may attain his wish, if it please God the Most High.’ And she turned to Seif el Mulouk and said to him, ‘Take comfort and be of good courage.’ Then she rose and going in to her mother, said to her, ‘Arise with me forthright and let