Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/94

76 were enemies come to make war on them and beleaguer them; so they shut the gates of the town and made ready the mangonels. But Seif, hearing of this, despatched two of his chief officers to the King of China, bidding them say to him, ‘This is Seif el Mulouk, son of King Aasim of Egypt, who is come to thy city as a guest, to divert himself by viewing thy country awhile, and not for battle or contention; so, an thou wilt receive him, he will come ashore to thee: else he will return and will not disquiet thee nor the people of thy city.’ So they presented themselves at the gates of the city and said, ‘We bear a message from King Seif el Mulouk.’ Whereupon the townsfolk opened the gates and carried them to their king, whose name was Feghfour Shah and between whom and King Aasim there had been acquaintance erewhen. So, when he heard that the new-comer was the son of King Aasim, he bestowed dresses of honour on the messengers and bidding open the gates, made ready guest-gifts and went forth, with the chief officers of his realm, to meet Seif el Mulouk.

The two kings embraced and Feghfour said to Seif, ‘Welcome and fair welcome to him who cometh to us! I am thy servant and thy father’s servant: my city is at thy disposal and whatsoever thou seekest shall be brought to thee.’ Then he presented him with the guest-gifts and victual, and they took horse, with the Vizier Saïd and the chiefs of their officers and the rest of their troops, and rode from the sea-shore to the city, which they entered with drums beating and cymbals clashing, in token of rejoicing. There they abode forty days, in the enjoyment of fair hospitality, at the end of which time the King of China said to Seif el Mulouk, ‘O son of my brother, how is it with thee? Doth my country please thee?’ Quoth Seif, ‘May God the Most High long honour it with thee, O King!’ And Feghfour said, ‘Nought hath brought thee hither save some need that hath betided thee; [so