e King of Egypt
received him with kindness, and was preparing to give him assistance,
when an envoy of Selimansha arrived and demanded audience.

This old monarch, informed by his spies of the road which Balavan had
taken, had sent deputies to all the Courts at which this wretch might
beg a retreat or support. A very full description was given of the
fugitive, and all his crimes were mentioned.

The Sultan, in communicating to the criminal the despatches he had
received, gave immediate orders that he should be shut up in close
confinement, waiting the sentence which an enraged father should pass
against him. Such was the order intimated to Balavan, and such was the
import of the answer which was given to the King Selimansha. But this
father, too weak and affectionate, committed at once two capital
blunders.

In order to excite against his son all the anger of the Egyptian King,
he had concealed from him that the young Shaseliman had escaped the
mortal blow which was aimed at him. He did not correct this opinion
in his second letter, and advised the King of Egypt to set the
criminal at liberty.

"Already too unhappy," said he, "I do not wish to stain my hand by
tracing the order for my son's death. Let him wander from place to
place, destitute of resources and assistance, having no companion but
remorse, and no society but the tigers of the desert, less inhuman
than himself. Assailed by want, tormented by grief, and detested by
others, may he himself become the instrument of my vengeance, which I
leave to the King of Kings."

Upon this resolution, the Sultan set Balavan at liberty, and banished
him for ever from his kingdom. Of this he gave an account to
Selimansha, with whom he entered upon a much more agreeable
negotiation.

The fame of the beauty and valuable qualities of Chamsada had reached
even to Egypt. Bensirak, the Sultan just mentioned, perceiving that it
was possible to obtain her hand, made the proposal to Selimansha in
the most urgent and respectful terms, beseeching him to gain the
consent of her whom both nature and blood had made subject to him as
his niece and daughter-in-law.

The aged monarch of Persia, pleased with a demand which offered to his
amiable niece so advantageous an establishment, instantly laid the
proposal before her. The feeling Chamsada could not hear it without
tears. Her heart still belonged wholly to the husband whom she had
lost, and she must tear herself from the arms of