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O virtuous maid," continued Almurah, "whose excellencies I have heard from this faithful animal, if thou canst deign to accept of the heart of Almurah, thy Sultan will be the happiest of mankind; but I swear, by my unalterable will, that no power on earth shall force or distress you." "Oh," sighed Urad, "royal Sultan, you honour your poor slave too much; yet happy should I be were Houadir here!"
As she spoke, the genius Houadir entered the room: the face of the sage instructress still remained, but a glowing splendour surrounded her, and her walk was majestic and commanding. Almurah bowed to the ground, Urad made obeisance, and the rest fell prostrate before her.
"Now, Urad, if thy mind incline to Almurah, receive his vows, but give not thine hand where thy heart is estranged, for no splendour can compensate the want of affection." "If Almurah, my gracious lord," answered Urad, "will swear in three things to do my desire, his handmaid will be happy to serve him." "I swear," answered the fond Almurah.
"Lovely Urad," said Almurah, "permit me, then, to dive into your thoughts: yes, by your kind glances on that noble beast, I perceive you meditated to ask some bounty for your deliverer.
He shall, fair virgin, be honoured as Urad's guardian, and the friend of Almurah; he shall live in my royal palace, with slaves to attend him; and, that his rest may not be inglorious or his life useless, once every year shall those who have injured the innocent be delivered up to his honest rage."
"Hadst thou three thousand desires, Almurah would satisfy them or die." "What strange things," said Houadir, "has Urad to ask of the Sultan Almurah?" "Whatever they are, gracious genius," said Almurah, "Urad, the lovely Urad, may command me." "Then," said Urad, "first I require that the poor inhabitants of the forest be restored to their native lands, whence thou hast driven them."
Houadir, being somewhat refreshed by the care of Nouri, acquainted her with the cruel decree of Almurah, who had turned her son out of his little patrimony, where, by the labour of his hands, he had for many years supported her, and that till that day she had ever found him a most dutiful and obedient son, and concluded with a wish that he would shortly return to his poor helpless parent.
He ordered the eunuch to release the fair Urad, and at that moment the faithful lion entered with the Sultan Almurah. The lion instantly seized on the Vizier Mussapulta, and tore him limb from limb. Yet the generous animal would not defile himself with the carcass, but with great wrath tossed the bloody remains among the females of the seraglio.
Slay this proud maiden in my sight. Cut off her head at once." The eunuch hesitated. "Why," said the proud Vizier, "do you delay to obey me?" As he said this an eunuch came running in haste, crying, "The Sultan, the Sultan Almurah, approaches!" All was instant confusion. Mussapulta turned pale and trembled.
"Alas!" answered the stranger, "my son has brought me hither from the tyranny of Almurah, and leaves me to perish in the deserts of Tigris. No sooner were you gone for the water, than a crowd of young damsels came this way, and led my cruel son from his perishing mother.
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