The Arabian Nights Entertainments - Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,940 pages of information about The Arabian Nights Entertainments.

The Arabian Nights Entertainments - Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,940 pages of information about The Arabian Nights Entertainments.

Alla ad Deen went to the princess’s apartment, and embracing her, said, “I can assure you, princess, that your joy and mine will be complete tomorrow morning.”  The princess, guessing that Alla ad Deen must be hungry, ordered the dishes, served up in the great hall, to be brought down.  The princess and Alla ad Deen ate as much as they thought fit, and drank of the African magician’s old wine; during which time their conversation could not be otherwise than satisfactory, and then they retired to their own chamber.

>From the time of the transportation of Alla ad Deen’s palace, the princess’s father had been inconsolable for the loss of her.  He could take no rest, and instead of avoiding what might continue his affliction, he indulged it without restraint.  Before the disaster he used to go every morning into his closet to please himself with viewing the palace, he went now many times in the day to renew his tears, and plunge himself into the deepest melancholy, by the idea of no more seeing that which once gave him so much pleasure, and reflecting how he had lost what was most dear to him in this world.

The very morning of the return of Alla ad Deen’s palace, the sultan went, by break of day, into his closet to indulge his sorrows.  Absorbed in himself, and in a pensive mood, he cast his eyes towards the spot, expecting only to see an open space; but perceiving the vacancy filled up, he at first imagined the appearance to be the effect of a fog; looking more attentively, he was convinced beyond the power of doubt it was his son-in-law’s palace.  Joy and gladness succeeded to sorrow and grief.  He returned immediately into his apartment, and ordered a horse to be saddled and brought to him without delay, which he mounted that instant, thinking he could not make haste enough to the palace.

Alla ad Deen, who foresaw what would happen, rose that morning by day-break, put on one of the most magnificent habits his wardrobe afforded, and went up into the hall of twenty-four windows, from whence he perceived the sultan approaching, and got down soon enough to receive him at the foot of the great staircase, and to help him to dismount.  “Alla ad Deen,” said the sultan, “I cannot speak to you till I have seen and embraced my daughter.”

He led the sultan into the princess’s apartment.  The happy father embraced her with his face bathed in tears of joy; and the princess, on her side, shewed him all the testimonies of the extreme pleasure the sight of him afforded her.

The sultan was some time before he could open his lips, so great was his surprise and joy to find his daughter again, after he had given her up for lost; and the princess, upon seeing her father, let fall tears of rapture and affection.

At last the sultan broke silence, and said, “I would believe, daughter, your joy to see me makes you seem as little changed as if no misfortune had befallen you; yet I cannot be persuaded but that you have suffered much alarm; for a large palace cannot be so suddenly transported as yours has been, without causing great fright and apprehension I would have you tell me all that has happened, and conceal nothing from me.”

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Arabian Nights Entertainments - Complete from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.