kingdom. That is the cause of my sorrow and unhappiness."
When the minister heard these words he said, "O king of the world, your sorrow
shall not long endure, for you have a son, capable of preserving and protecting
your kingdom. This son of yours has intelligence, education, natural gifts, and
great personal beauty, and is of most excellent character."
The King said, "Where is this son of whose existence I have been unaware?"
The minister answered, "Your Majesty is not aware of his existence, but I know
that he is very much alive." The minister then related how he had spared the
lives of the Queen and her child. The King was transported with joy, and cried,
"Happy the king who has such a minister!"
The minister bowed low and said, "When shall your son, the prince, present
himself?"
The King answered: "Go seek forty young men of his age, build, figure, and
complexion. Have them all dressed alike. Bring these forty young men with my
son to a certain place in the plain. Await me there, but tell not this secret to a
soul. When I have arrived at the spot then cause these forty young men to
present themselves before me. If my son is among them I shall most certainly
recognize him."
The minister took leave of the King, and with a heart filled with joy set about
doing what the King had ordered. When the King had arrived at the spot chosen
his minister advanced, followed by forty-one youths, all dressed alike. As soon
as the King had seen them he recognized his son and called him to his side. Then
he went back to the city with him and all the grandees. The next day he invited
the latter to a great festival, and gave to each of them a splendid present. He
turned over his kingdom to his son, taking care to place him and his government
under the tutelage of the good minister who had saved his wife and brought him
up. Then the King went into a religious retreat, and as long as he lived occupied
himself in the service of God.
The Sultan Alexander, called the Two-Horned, at the beginning of his reign sent
an ambassador to King Darius, who was then at the zenith of his greatness. On
his return, this ambassador made his report to King Alexander. The latter read it,
but had doubts over a certain word therein contained. He questioned his
ambassador about the word, saying, "Did you hear that exact word from the