the enemy, slew several warriors, and, returning to his father, made humble obeisance and said: "O thou to whom my person appeared contemptible and didst not believe in the impetuosity of my valour: a horse with slender girth is of use on the day of battle, not a fattened ox."
It is related that the troops of the enemy were numerous, and that they [the King's] being few, were about to flee, but that the puny youth raised a shout, saying: "O men, take care not to put on the garments of women!" These words augmented the rage of the troopers so that they made a unanimous attack, and I heard that they gained the victory on the said occasion. The King kissed the head and eyes of his son, took him in his arms, and daily augmented his affection till he appointed him to succeed him on the throne. His brothers became envious and placed poison in his food, but were perceived by his sister from her apartment, whereon she closed the window violently, and the youth, shrewdly guessing the significance of the act, restrained his hands from touching the food, and said: "It is impossible that men of honour should die, and those who possess none should take their place."
- No one goes under the shadow of an owl
- Even if the Homâ[1] should disappear from the world.
This state of affairs having been brought to the notice of the father, he severely reproved the brothers, and assigned to each of them a different, but pleasant, district [as a place of exile] till the confusion was quelled and the quarrel appeased; and it has been said that ten Dervishes may sleep under the same
- ↑ The Homâ is a fabulous bird, resembling, in some respects, the phoenix; the person upon whose head the shadow if it falls, while flying in the sky, is believed to be destined to occupy a throne.
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