第53章 (53)(1 / 3)

But was all this on thine account,O my sister?'--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night; She pursued,It hath reached me,O auspicious King,that when Princess Manar al-Sana repeated to her sister these praises of Hasan,the other replied,'By Allah,this man can claim all respect more by token of his generosity.But was all this on thine account?''Yes,'answered Manar al-Sana,and they passed the night in converse till the morning morrowed and the sun rose and they were minded to depart.So they farewelled one another and Manar al-Sana gave God-speed to the ancient dame after the reconciling her with Queen Nur al-Huda.Thereupon Hasan smote the earth with the rod and its servants the Jinn appeared and saluted him,saying,'Praised be Allah,who hath set thy soul at rest! Command us what thou wilt,and we will do it for thee in less than the twinking of an eye.'He thanked them for their saying and said to them'Allah requite you with good! Saddle me two steeds of the best.'So they brought him forthwith two saddled coursers,one of which he mounted,taking his elder son before him,and his wife rode the other,taking the younger son in front of her.Then the Queen and the old woman also backed horse and departed,Hasan and his wife following the right and Nur al-Huda and Shawahi the left hand road.The spouses fared on with their children,without stopping,for a whole month,till they drew in sight of a city,which they found compassed about with trees and streams and,making the trees,dismounted beneath them thinking to rest there.As they sat talking,behold,they saw many horsemen coming towards them,whereupon Hasan rose and going to meet them,saw that it was King Hassun,lord of the Land of Camphor and Castle of Crystal,with his attendants.So Hasan went up to the King and kissed his hands and saluted him;and when Hassun saw him,he dismounted and seating himself with Hasan upon carpets under the trees returned his salam and gave him joy of his safety and rejoiced in him with exceeding joy,saying to him,'O Hasan,tell me all that hath befallen thee,first and last.'So he told him all of that,whereupon the King marvelled and said to him,'O my son,none ever reached the Islands of Wak and returned thence but thou,and indeed thy case is wondrous;