The Arabian Nights Entertainments, vol 1 | Page 2

the empire, and obliged to live a private life,
was so far from envying the happiness of his brother, that he made it
his whole business to please him, and in this succeeded without much
difficulty. Shier-ear, who had naturally a great affection the prince his
brother, gave him the kingdom of Great Tartary. Shaw-zummaun went
immediately and took possession of it, and fixed the seat of his
government at Samarcand, the metropolis of the country.
After they had been separated ten years, Shier-ear, being very desirous
of seeing his brother, resolved to send an ambassador to invite him to
his court. He made choice of his prime vizier for the embassy, and sent
him to Tartary, with a retinue answerable to his dignity. The vizier
proceeded with all possible expedition to Samarcand. When he came
near the city, Shaw-zummaun was informed of his approach, and went
to meet him attended by the principal lords of his court, who, to shew
the greater honour to the sultan's minister, appeared in magnificent
apparel. The king of Tartary received the ambassador with the greatest
demonstrations of joy; and immediately asked him concerning the

welfare of the sultan his brother. The vizier having acquainted him that
he was in health, informed him of the purpose of his embassy.
Shaw-zummaun was much affected, and answered: "Sage vizier, the
sultan my brother does me too much honour; nothing could be more
agreeable to me, for I as ardently long to see him as he does to see me.
Time has not diminished my friendship more than his. My kingdom is
in peace, and I want no more than ten days to get myself ready to return
with you. There is therefore no necessity for your entering the city for
so short a period. I pray you to pitch your tents here, and I will order
everything necessary to be provided for yourself and your attendants."
The vizier readily complied; and as soon as the king returned to the city,
he sent him a prodigious quantity of provisions of all sorts, with
presents of great value.
In the meanwhile, Shaw-zummaun prepared for his journey, gave
orders about his most important affairs, appointed a council to govern
in his absence, and named a minister, of whose wisdom he had
sufficient experience, and in whom he had entire confidence, to be their
president. At the end of ten days, his equipage being ready, he took
leave of the queen his wife, and went out of town in the evening with
his retinue. He pitched his royal pavilion near the vizier's tent, and
conversed with him till midnight. Wishing once more to see the queen,
whom he ardently loved, he returned alone to his palace, and went
directly to her majesty's apartments. But she, not expecting his return,
had taken one of the meanest officers of her household to her bed.
The king entered without noise, and pleased himself to think how he
should surprise his wife who he thought loved him with reciprocal
tenderness. But how great was his astonishment, when, by the light of
the flambeau, he beheld a man in her arms! He stood immovable for
some time, not knowing how to believe his own eyes. But finding there
was no room for doubt, "How!" said he to himself, "I am scarcely out
of my palace, and but just under the walls of Samarcand, and dare they
put such an outrage upon me? Perfidious wretches! your crime shall not
go unpunished. As a king, I am bound to punish wickedness committed
in my dominions; and as an enraged husband, I must sacrifice you to
my just resentment." The unfortunate prince, giving way to his rage,

then drew his cimeter, and approaching the bed killed them both with
one blow, their sleep into death; and afterwards taking them up, he
threw them out of a window into the ditch that surrounded the palace.
Having thus avenged himself, he returned to his pavilion without
saying one word of what had happened, gave orders that the tents
should be struck, and everything made ready for his journey. All was
speedily prepared, and before day he began his march, with
kettle-drums and other instruments of music, that filled everyone with
joy, excepting the king; he was so much afflicted by the disloyalty of
his wife, that he was seized with extreme melancholy, which preyed
upon his spirits during the whole of his journey.
When he drew near the capital of the Indies, the sultan Shier-ear and all
his court came out to meet him. The princes were overjoyed to see one
another, and having alighted, after mutual embraces and other marks of
affection and respect, remounted, and entered the city, amidst the
acclamations of the people. The sultan conducted his brother to