red to me? Alas! I despaired of seeing you more." So
saying, he stretched out his arms to the young prince, who flew 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 to rejoice with us on 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 everything, 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 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, 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 th