I quaffed its cup of rigours out, yea, even to the dregs, And to
its freemen and its slaves myself therein abased.
Fortune aforetime made a vow to separate our loves; Now hath she
kept her vow, alack! and made my life a waste.
Then he wiped away his tears and bade his troops make ready for a
long journey. So they all mounted and set forth, headed by the
Sultan, whose heart burnt with grief and anxiety for his son. He
divided the troops into six bodies, whom he despatched in as many
directions, giving them rendezvous for the morrow at the
cross-roads. Accordingly they scoured the country diligently all
that day and night, till at noon of the ensuing day they joined
company at the cross-roads. Here four roads met and they knew
not which the prince had followed, till they came to the torn
clothes and found shreds of flesh and blood scattered by the way
on all sides. When the King saw this, he cried out from his
inmost heart, saying, 'Alas, my son!' and buffeted his face and
tore his beard and rent his clothes, doubting not but his son was
dead. Then he gave himself up to weeping and wailing, and the
troops also wept for his weeping, being assured that the prince
had perished. They wept and lamented and threw dust on their
heads till they were nigh upon death, and the night surprised
them whilst they were thus engaged.
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