Arabian Nights: 229th: Night: Anis al Jalis, The Slave Girl -29

The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that Ja'far set out at once and journeyed until he reached Basra at the very moment when, as I have described, the executioner stood with drawn sword
and was about to strike off Nur al-Din's head.  Ja'far went up to the king, saluted him, and inquired what was the matter With Nur al-Din, and the king explained situation.  Ja'far bade Nur al-Din be brought before him.  They brought him with execution mat and sword.  He bade them to untie him.  They did so. He bade them to tie the vizier, and tie the rope around his neck. They did so.  Then he took all the three and reached Baghdad, the City of Peace, went to the palace of the Caliph, and presented him Nur al-Din and told what he saw at Basra, and how he could save Nur al-Din.

The Caliph said to Nur al-Din, " Nur al-Din ibn-Khaqan, Take this sword, and strike off the head of your enemy with your own hand.  Taking the sword, Nur al-Din went upto the vizier, who said to him, "I did according to my nature, do according to yours.

Nur al-Din threw the sword away, and said to Caliph, "O my lord, the poet says:

I tricked him to forgive me for my Breach. For noble minds are deceived by foxy speech."

The Caliph said to Masrur, "Strike off his head yourself."

Masrur went up to vizier, and with one stroke, severed his head from his body.  The Caliph turned to Nur al-Din, and said, "Ask for a boon from me."
Nur al-Din said, "I have no need of kingship of Basra; all I desire is the honour of your companionship."

The Caliph went into his palace, and returned with Anis al Jalis, bestowed favours on him, and granted his wish, making him, one of his boon companions.

Nur al-Din and Anis al Jalis lived together happily.

But morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.





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