The troops of Ahubal, finding themselves free from the attacks of the
Sultan's army, endeavoured to comfort their Prince, who was grieved
and dejected at the loss of his friends; and the provinces of the
south, to dissipate his gloom, besought him to permit them to raise a
pavilion worthy of his dignity, as heretofore he contented himself
with such as his generals made use of.

The Prince Ahubal, who by nature was not formed for war or contest,
but only stirred up by the enchanters to be their tool against the
Sultan his brother, was easily persuaded to accept of the offers of
his troops, and a hundred curious artisans were set to work to
contrive and erect a sumptuous pavilion for the use of the Prince.

To these workmen, all the provinces who acknowledged the authority of
Ahubal sent diamonds and jewels, and rich silks, and all the costly
materials of the world, to finish the splendid pavilion which they
purposed to raise for their Prince.

While the sumptuous tent was raising, the squadrons of Ahaback drew
nearer and nearer, and the elephants of Desra were within thirty days
of the camp of Ahubal.

The Vizier Horam, having returned with his reinforcements, waited on
the Sultan, and besought him to trust the management of his army to
him for forty days.

"Horam," said the Sultan, "I have such confidence in thy sense and
loyalty, that I grant thy request."

The Vizier, having obtained his end, sent a messenger to Ahubal, and
desired a forty-days' truce between the armies, to which the Prince
readily agreed. In a few hours the truce was proclaimed in the
Sultan's camp; and when Misnar hoped that his Vizier would have
attacked the rebel army with a force more than double their number, he
heard the trumpets sound a truce in the tents.

Such a behaviour, so contrary to reason, alarmed the Sultan, and he
sent for the Vizier Horam, and demanded his reasons for making a truce
with his enemies.

"My lord," answered Horam, "I have heard that the southern provinces
are erecting a pavilion for your rebel brother Ahubal, which in
splendour and magnificence is to surpass all the glories of thy palace
at Delhi; and being convinced that thy subjects are led more by show
and appearance than by duty and honour, I feared that Ahubal's
glorious pavilion might draw the neighbouring cities into his
encampment, and thereby strengthen his army, and weaken the resources
of my Prince. For this reason I besought my lord to give me