第124章 NOUREDDIN ALI AND THE DAMSEL ENIS EL JELIS.(13)

The Khalif forgave him and bade carry the damsel to the palace，where he assigned her a separate lodging and servants to wait upon hersaying to her'Know that we have sent thy master to be Sultan in Bassoraand God willingwe will despatch him a dress of honour and thee with it.'

MeanwhileNoureddin fared ontill he reached Bassorawhen he repaired to the Sultan's palace and gave a loud cry. The Sultan heard him and sent for him；and when he came into his presence，he kissed the earth before him and pulling out the lettergave it to him. The Sultanseeing that the superion was in the handwriting of the Khalifrose to his feet and kissed the letter three timesthen read it and said'I hear and obey God and the Commander of the Faithful！'Then he summoned the four Cadis and the Amirs and was about to divest himself of the kingly office，when in came the Vizier Muin ben Sawa. The Sultan gave him the Khalif's letterand he read itthen tore it in pieces and putting it in his mouthchewed it and threw it away. 'Out on thee！'exclaimed the Sultan （and indeed he was angry）；'what made thee do that？'By thy lifeO our lord the Sultan，'replied Muin'this fellow hath never seen the Khalif nor his Vizier：

but he is a gallows-birda crafty imp whohappening upon a blank sheet in the Khalif's handwritinghath written his own desire in it. The Khalif would surely not have sent him to take the Sultanate from theewithout a royal mandate and a patent appended theretonor would he have omitted to send with him a chamberlain or a vizier. But he is alone and hath never come from the Khalifnever！never！'What is to be done？'said the Sultan. 'Leave him to me，'replied the Vizier： 'I will send him in charge of a chamberlain to the city of Baghdad. If what he says be truethey will bring us back royal letters-patent and a diploma of investiture；and if notI will pay him what I owe him.'When the Sultan heard the Vizier's wordshe said'Take him.'So Muin carried Noureddin to his own house and cried out to his servantswho threw him down and beat himtill he swooned away. Then he caused heavy shackles to be put on his feet and carried him to the prisonwhere he called the gaolerwhose name was Cuteytand said to him'O Cuteyttake this fellow and throw him into one of the underground cells in the prison and torture him night and day.'I hear and obey，'replied heand taking Noureddin into the prisonlocked the door on him. Then he bade sweep a bench behind the door and layingthereon a mattress and a leather rugmade Noureddin sit down. Moreoverhe loosed his fetters and treated him kindly. The Vizier sent every day to the gaolercharging him to beat himbut he abstained from this，and things abode thus forty days'time. On the forty-first day，there came a present from the Khalif： which when the Sultan saw，it pleased him and he took counsel about it with his Viziersone of whom said'Mayhap this present was intended for the new Sultan.'Quoth Muin'We should have done well to put him to death at his first coming；'and the Sultan said'By Allahthou remindest me of him！Go down to the prison and fetch himand I will strike off his head.'I hear end obey，'replied Muin. 'With thy leave I will have proclamation made in the city'Whoso hath a mind to look upon the beheading of Noureddin Ali ben Khacan，let him repair to the palace！'Sogreat and small will come out to gaze on him and I shall heal my heart and mortify those that envy me.'As thou wilt，'said the Sultan；whereupon the Vizier went outrejoicingand commanded the chief of the police to make the aforesaid proclamation. When the folk heard the crier，they all mourned and wepteven to the little ones in the schools and the tradersin the shopsand some hastened to get them places to see the sightwhilst others repaired to the prison thinking to accompany him thence. Presentlythe Vizier came to the prisonattended by ten armed slavesand the gaoler said to him，'What seekest thouO our lord the Vizier？'Bring me that gallows-bird，'replied the Vizier；and the gaoler said'He is in the sorriest of plights for the much beating I have given him.'

Then Cuteyt went into the prisonwhere he found Noureddin repeating the following verses：

Who shall avail me against the woes that my life enwind？ Indeed my disease is sore and the remedy hard to find.

Exile hath worn my heart and my spirit with languishmentAnd evil fortune hath turned my very lovers unkind.

O folkis there none of you all will answer my bitter cry！Is there never a merciful friend will help me of all mankind？

Yet death and the pains of death are a little thing to me；I have put off the hope of life and left its sweets behind.

O Thou that sentest the Guidethe Chosen Prophet to menThe Prince of the Intercessorsgifted to loose and bind，I pritheedeliver me and pardon me my defaultAnd put the troubles to flight that crush mebody and mind I The gaoler took off his clean clothes and clothing him in two filthy garmentscarried him to the Vizier. Noureddin looked at himand knowing him for his enemy who still sought to compass his deathwept and said to him'Art thou then secure against Fate？ Hast thou not heard the saying of the poet？

Where are now the old Chosroestyrants of a bygone day？ Wealth they gathered；but their treasures and themselves have passed away！

O Vizier，'continued he'know that God （blessed and exalted be He！） doth whatever He will！'O Ali，'replied the Vizier'dost thou think to fright me with this talk？ Know that I mean this day to strike off thy head in despite of the people of Bassoraand let the days do what they willI care not；nor will I take thought to thy warningbut rather to what the poet says：

Let the days do what they willwithout debateAnd brace thy spirit against the doings of Fate.

And also how well says another：

He who lives a day after his foe Hath compassed his wishesI trow！