Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/86

68 pavilion, addressed themselves to the service of the king, according to their wont, and abode in their several stations, some standing and others sitting, till all the people were gathered together, when the king commanded to spread the tables and they ate and drank and prayed for him.

Then he commanded the chamberlains to proclaim to the people that they should not depart: so they made proclamation to them, saying, ‘Let none of you depart hence till he have heard the king’s words!’ So they drew the curtains [of the royal pavilion] and the king said, ‘Whoso loveth me, let him remain till he have heard my words!’ Whereupon the folk all sat down, reassured, after they had been fearful. Then the king rose to his feet and conjuring them all to remain seated, said to them, ‘O amirs and viziers and grandees, great and small, and all ye who are present of the people, know ye not that this kingdom was an inheritance to me from my fathers and forefathers?’ ‘Yes, O king,’ answered they, ‘we all know that.’ And he continued, saying, ‘I and you, we all worshipped the sun and moon, till God (blessed and exalted be He!) vouchsafed us the knowledge of the true faith and brought us out of darkness into light, guiding us to the religion of Islam. Know that I am become a very old man, decrepit and feeble, and I desire to take up my abode in an oratory, there to worship God the Most High and crave His pardon for past offences and make this my son Seif el Mulouk ruler. Ye know that he is a goodly youth, eloquent, just and intelligent, learned and versed in affairs; wherefore I am minded presently to resign my kingdom to him and to make him king and sultan over you in my stead, whilst I give myself to the worship of God in an oratory. What say ye then, all of you?’

Thereupon they all rose and kissing the ground before him, made answer with ‘Hearing and obedience,’ saying,