Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/70

was gone a hunting with the Sultan of Egypt, did not come back in a Month, for the Sultan loved that Game extreamly, and therefore continu’d the Sport all that while. Schemſeddin at his Return run to Noureddin Ali’s Apartment, but was much ſurpriz’d when he underſtood that under pretence of taking a Journey of two or three Days, he went away on a Mule the ſame Day that the Sultan went a hunting, and had never appear’d ſince. It vex’d him ſo much the more, becauſe he did not doubt but the hard Words he had given him was the Cauſe of his going away. He ſent a Meſſenger in ſearch of him, who went to Damaſcus, and as far as Aleppo, but Noureddin was then at Balſora. When the Courier return’d and brought Word that he heard no News of him, Schemſeddin Mohammed intended to make further Enquiry after him in other Parts, and in the mean time had a fancy to marry, and match with tho Daughter of one of the greateſt Lords in Cairo upon the ſame Day his Brother married the Daughter of the Grand Vizier of Balſora.

But this is not all, ſaid Giafar, at the end of Nine Months, Schemſeddin Mohammed’s Wife was brought to Bed of a Daughter at Cairo, and on the ſame Day Noureddin’s Wife brought forth a Son at Balſora, who was called Bedreddin Haſſan.

The Grand Vizier of Balſora teſtify’d his Joy by great Gifts, and publick Entertainments for the Birth of his Grandſon. And to ſhew his Son-in-law the great Eſteem he had for him, he went to the Palace, and moſt humbly begg’d of the Sultan to grant Noureddin Ali his Office, that he might have the Comfort before his Death to ſee his Son-in-law made Grand Vizier in his ſtead.

The Sultan, who had taken a great Liking to Noureddin, when his Father preſented him after his Marriage, and had ever ſince heard every Body ſpeak well of him, readily granted his Father-in-law’s Requeſt, and cauſed Noureddin immediately to put on the Robe of the Grand Vizier.

The next Day, when the Father ſaw his Son-in-law preſide in Council as he himſelf had done, and perform’d all the Offices of a Grand Vizier, his Joy was compleat. Noureddin Ali behaved himſelf ſo well in every thing, that one would have thought he had been all his Life-time employed in ſuch Affairs; He continu’d afterward to aſſiſt in