Arabian Nights: 245th Night: Jullanar of the Sea -16

The following night Shahrazad said:

The old king, father of King Badr is dead. They buried him, a stately burial. They, the natives, friends and family members mourned over him for a full month. Jullanar's mother, brother and cousins came and offered their condolences. They said, "O Jullanar, although your husband is dead, he has left this noble young man, this fierce lion and radiant moon."

The lord and chief officers of the state went to Badr, the king and said, "O king, mourning is unseemly, except for women.  The death of your father should not distract you."  

They took him to bath, and when he came out, he put on a fine robe embroidered with gold and adorned with rubies and other jewels, and placing the royal crown on his head, sat on the throne and took care of the affairs of the people, judging fairly between the strong and the weak, and exacting from the prince the right of the beggar, so that all the people loved him and invoked blessings upon him.  He lived in this fashion for a full year, while every now and then his relatives of the sea visited him and his mother, and he led a happy and peaceful life.

One night his uncle came to visit his sister, Jullanar. He greeted her, and she embraced him, and seated him beside her, and asked, "How are my mother and cousins?"
He replied, "They are fine and lack nothing but the sight of your face."  She called for some food, and after he had eaten and the table removed, they began to while away chating, and it hoavered over King Badr, his beauty and elegance, his cultivation and wisdom, and his skills in horsemanship.  The king himself lay reclining nearby.  When he heard what his mother and uncle said, he listened them pretending to be asleep.

Sayih  said to Jullanar, "Sister, your son is now sixteen, but still unmarried.  I am afraid, it is too late. I wish to marry him with a princess of the sea, one who is equal in beauty and grace."  His sister replied, "By God, I have been neglecting that point, you are very well in reminding me. But I wonder who is worthy of him from among the daughters of the sea? Name them to me."

Sayih began to name them. But Jullanar was not satisfied with any of the princess.  She was searching a girl who is equal to him in beauty, grace, wisdom and piety, cultivation and nobilty, and rank and pedigree.  When he found that his sister was not satisfied with any one of them mentioned, he said, "Sister, I have in my mind, one princess, but I am afraid whether we will be able to win her."

Jullanar said, "You are right. But tell me who is she?"
The brother replied, "Jauhara, the daughter of King al Shamandal, for she is his equal in beauty, charm and grace."

Morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.

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