第21章(2 / 3)

Then the Grandees came in to him and kissed hands and called down blessings on him.The new King,Zibl Khan,received them graciously and bestowed on them dresses of honour and various presents and bounties;after which he opened the treasuries and gave largesse to the troops,great and small.Then he governed and did justice and proceeded to equip the Lady Kuzia Fakan,daughter of King Sharrkan,appointing her a litter of silken stuff.Moreover he furnished the Wazir Dandan equally well for the return journey and offered him a gift of coin but he refused,saying,'Thou art near the time appointed by the King,and haply thou wilt have need of money,or after this we may send to seek of thee funds for the Holy War or what not.'Now when the Wazir was ready to march,Sultan alMujahid mounted to bid the Minister farewell and brought Kuzia Fakan to him,and made her enter the litter and sent with her ten damsels to do her service.

Thereupon they set forward,whilst King 'Fighter for the Faith'returned to his government that he might order affairs and get ready his munitions of war,awaiting such time as King Zau al Makan should send a requisition to him.Such was the case with Sultan Zibl Khan,but as regards the Wazir Dandan,he ceased not faring forward and finishing off the stages,in company with Kuzia Fakan till they came to Ruhbah[61] after a month's travel and thence pushed on,till he drew near Baghdad.Then he sent to announce his arrival to King Zau alMakan who,when he heard this,took horse and rode out to meet him.The Wazir Dandan would have dismounted,but the King conjured him not to do so and urged his steed till he came up to his side.Then he questioned him of Zibl Khan highs AlMujahid,whereto the Wazir replied that he was well and that he had brought with him Kuzia Fakan the daughter of his brother.At this the King rejoiced and said to Dandan,'Down with thee and rest thee from the fatigue of the journey for three days,after which come to me again.'