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Malayan literature; comprising romantic tales, epic poetry and royal ...

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THE PRINCESS DJOUHER-MANIKAM 135<br />

When the prince heard these words of the princess whom<br />

he loved so tenderly <strong>and</strong> whose wishes he granted, he ordered<br />

his ministers <strong>and</strong> chiefs to arrange the transport of the princess<br />

<strong>and</strong> her children. Addressing the ministers he said as<br />

" O you my ministers, whom among you can I<br />

follows :<br />

charge to conduct safely my wife <strong>and</strong> three children to Bagdad,<br />

near their ancestor King Haroun-er-Raschid ? "<br />

No one among them dared approach <strong>and</strong> speak. All held<br />

silence. Then the prince, addressing the oldest minister of all,<br />

said:<br />

" O my minister, it is you to whom, following the dictates<br />

of my heart, I can trust to accompany my wife <strong>and</strong> three children.<br />

For I have always found you loyal <strong>and</strong> faithful to me.<br />

Beside, you are older than the other ministers. And you have<br />

the fear of God the most high <strong>and</strong> worthy of all praise as well<br />

as respect for your King."<br />

"<br />

The minister said : O my lord, it is in all sincerity that<br />

your servant puts above his head the comm<strong>and</strong>s of your<br />

Majesty. I shall do my whole duty in conducting the princess<br />

<strong>and</strong> her children to the King Haroun-er-Raschid."<br />

So the King Chah Djouhou trusted his wife <strong>and</strong> his three<br />

children to this perfidious minister, reposing upon the promise<br />

he had made. Forty camels were laden with presents, forty<br />

nurses for the children, one hundred ladies in the suite of the<br />

princess, a thous<strong>and</strong> cavaliers, well armed <strong>and</strong> well equipped,<br />

formed the escort. The princess took leave of her husb<strong>and</strong>.<br />

He held her clasped in his arms, <strong>and</strong>, weeping, covered her<br />

<strong>and</strong> his three children with kisses. He bade her to present his<br />

homage to her father the Sultan Haroun-er-Raschid, his salutations<br />

to her elder brother Minbah-Chahaz, <strong>and</strong> to place at<br />

the feet of their majesties a thous<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> a thous<strong>and</strong> apologies,<br />

<strong>and</strong> to make his excuses to her brother Minbah-Chahaz.<br />

Then the prince said to the wicked minister :<br />

" O my minister, you must go now, <strong>and</strong> lead the camel of<br />

my wife, for I have perfect confidence in you. Above all,<br />

guard her well."<br />

But the King did not lean upon God the most high <strong>and</strong><br />

worthy of all praise, <strong>and</strong> that is why God punished him.<br />

When the prince had finished speaking to the minister the<br />

"<br />

latter said : O my lord. King of the world, your servant

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