to
such a tender embrace.

"I know all, my son," said the sultan again, after having long
held him in his arms. "I know what return your brothers have
made you for delivering them out of the hands of the black; but
you shall be revenged to-morrow. Let us now go to the palace
where your mother, who has shed so many tears on your account,
expects me to rejoice with us for the defeat of our enemies.
What a joy will it be to her to be informed, that my victory is
your work!" "Sir," said Codadad, "give me leave to ask how you
could know the adventure of the castle? Have any of my brothers,
repenting, owned it to you?" "No," answered the sultan; "the
princess of Deryabar has given us an account of every thing, for
she is in my palace and came thither to demand justice against
your brothers." Codadad was transported with joy, to learn that
the princess his wife was at the court. "Let us go, sir," cried
he to his father in rapture, "let us go to my mother, who waits
for us. I am impatient to dry up her tears, as well as those of
the princess of Deryabar."

The sultan immediately returned to the city with his army, and
re-entered his palace victorious, amidst the acclamations of the
people, who followed him in crowds, praying to heaven to prolong
his life, and extolling Codadad to the skies. They found Pirouze
and her daughter-in-law waiting to congratulate the sultan; but
words cannot express the transports of joy they felt, when they
saw the young prince with him: their embraces were mingled with
tears of a very different kind from those they had before shed
for him. When they had sufficiently yielded to all the emotions
that the ties of blood and love inspired, they asked Codadad by
what miracle he came to be still alive?

He answered, that a peasant mounted on a mule happening
accidentally to come into the tent, where he lay senseless, and
perceiving him alone, and stabbed in several places, had made him
fast on his mule, and carried him to his house, where he applied
to his wounds certain herbs chewed, which recovered him. "When I
found myself well," added he, "I returned thanks to the peasant,
and gave him all the diamonds I had. I then made for the city of
Harran; but being informed by the way, that some neighbouring
princes had gathered forces, and were on their march against the
sultan's subjects, I made myself known to the villagers, and
stirred them up to undertake his defence. I armed a great numb