Arabian Nights: 212th Night: Anis al Jalis, The Slave Girl - 12

The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that the vizier al-Mu'in ibn-Sawi said to the king, "Nur al-Din looked at me and said, 'Wretched old man, I will sell her to a Christian or a Jew rather than to you.'

I replied, "Is this how you reward our lord, the king for helping your father and myself thriving under his blessing?" When he heard this, he rose, and pulling me off my horse he began to beat me until he left me in this condition.  All this happened to me solely because I strove to be true to you." Then the vizier threw himself on the ground and lay there, weeping, trembling, and pretending to swoon.  When the king saw the vizier's condition and heard his story the veins of his eyes bulged with anger and he turned to the officers of the state, and seeing forty armed guards standing on duty, said to them, "Go to ibn-Khaqan's house and sack it and raze it; then bind him and drag him with the girl on their faces until you bring them to me."
They replied, "We hear and obey."

One of those present was one of the king's Chamberlains, who was called Alam al-Din Sanjar.  He had earlier been one of the Mamluks of Fadl al-Din ibn-Khaqan, but had subsequently left his service for that of the king, who had advanced him and made him a chamberlain.  When he saw the enemies intent on killing his master's son, he could not stand it, so he withdrew from the king's presence, and mounting his horse, rode, and came to Nur al-Din's house, and knocked at the door.  Nur al-Din came out, and greeted Sanjar.  But he replied, "This is no time for greetings, as the poet says:

Save yourself and leave the house, 
To mourn its builder. Your country 
You will replace with another. But 
For yourself will find no other self.
Nor with mission trust another man
For none is as loyal as you yourself.
And did the lion not struggle by Himself, he would not prowl 
With such a mighty mane.

Nur al-Din asked him, "Alam al-Din Sanjar, what is the matter?"

He replied, "Lord, rise and flee your lives, you and the girl, for the vizier has set a trap for you.  The king has dispatched forty men to sack your house, and bind you and the girl, and bring before him.  Flee with the girl before they come."  Alam al-Din Sanjar put his hand into his pouch, and finding forty dinars, took them and gave them to Nur al-Din Ali, and said "Take this money for your journey."

Nur al-Din Ali went to Anis al Jalis and told her what had happened.  Two of them fled at once.  They came to the city gate, and reached the river bank, where they saw a large ship, with captain standing,  ready to sail.

But morning overtook, and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.



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