I
say again, I consent to marry: so tell this to my father, O
Vizier, and advise him to marry me to her, for I will have none
other and my heart loveth her alone. Go now to my father and
counsel him to hasten our marriage and bring me his answer
forthright.' 'It is well,' rejoined the Vizier, and went out
from him, hardly crediting his escape. Then he set off running
and stumbling as he went, for excess of affright and agitation,
till he came in to the King, who said to him, 'O Vizier, what has
befallen thee and who has maltreated thee and how comes it that I
see thee thus confounded and terrified?' 'O King,' answered the
Vizier, 'I bring thee news.' 'What is it?' asked Shehriman, and
the Vizier said, 'Know that thy son Kemerezzeman's wits are gone
and that madness hath betided him.' When the King heard this,
the light in his face became darkness and he said, 'Expound to me
the nature of my son's madness.' 'O my lord,' answered the
Vizier, 'I hear and obey.' Then he told him all that had passed
and the King said to him, 'O most ill-omened of Viziers and
filthiest of Amirs, know that the reward I will give thee in
return for this thy news of my son's madness shall be the cutting
off of thy bead and the forfeiture of thy goods; for thou hast
caused my son's disorder by the wicked and sinister counsel thou
hast given me first and last.
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