Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/133

115 With this in came Merjaneh and saluting her reverently, repeated to her what Bediya el Jemal had told her; which when the old queen heard, she cried out at her and was wroth with her and said, ‘How shall there be accord between mankind and the Jinn?’ But Seif answered her, saying, ‘Indeed, I will conform to thy will and be thy servant and die in thy love and will keep faith with thee and regard none but thee: so shalt thou see my truth and lack of falsehood and the excellence of my honourable dealing with thee, if it be the will of God the Most High!’ The old woman bowed her head and pondered awhile; after which she raised her head and said to him, ‘O fair youth, wilt thou indeed keep faith and troth?’ ‘Yes,’ answered he; ‘by Him who raised the heavens and spread out the earth upon the water, I will indeed keep faith!’

Quoth she, ‘God willing, I will accomplish thee thy desire: but now go thou into the garden and take thy pleasure therein and eat of its fruits, that have neither like nor equal in the world, whilst I send for my son Shehyal and talk with him of the matter. Nothing but good shall come of it, so God please, for he will not cross me nor depart from my commandment and I will marry thee with his daughter Bediya el Jemal. So be of good heart, O Seif el Mulouk, for she shall assuredly be thy wife.’ The prince thanked her and kissing her hands and feet, went forth from her into the garden; whilst she turned to Merjaneh and said to her, ‘Go and find my son Shehyal and bring him to me, wherever he is.’ So Merjaneh went out in quest of King Shehyal and found him and brought him to his mother.

Meanwhile, as Seif el Mulouk walked in the garden, five Jinn of the people of the Blue King espied him and said to each other, ‘Whence cometh yonder fellow and who brought him hither? Belike it is he who slew the