Page 287 - Bulbul Hezar

they received it.
The sultan, contrary to his usual custom, did not hunt long that

day; he judged that the princes' wit was equal to their courage
and bravery, and longed with impatience to be more at liberty
to discourse with them: he made them ride on each side of him;
which honour, without speaking of the principal courtiers, was
envied by the grand visier, who was very much mortified to see
them preferred before him.
When the sultan entered his capital, the eyes of the people, who

stood in crowds in the streets, were fixed only upon the two
princes, Bahman and Perviz; and they were earnest to know
who they might be, whether foreigners or natives.
However, they all wished that the sultan had been blessed with
two such handsome, lovely princes, and said, He might have had
children as old, if the sultaness had not had misfortunes in her
lyings-in.
The first thing that the sultan did when he arrived at his palace
was, to carry the princes into the principal apartments; who

praised, with judgment, the beauty and symmetry of the rooms,
and the richness of the furniture and ornaments. Afterwards, a
magnificent repast was served up, and the sultan made them sit
at the same table with him; which they at first refused, but
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