The king taking the matter just as Saouy intended it, What! replied he, is the wretch still living? I thought you had put him to death already. Sir, I have no power, answered the vizier, to take any person’s life away; that only belongs to your majesty. Go, said the king, behead him instantly; I give you full authority. Sir, replied the vizier Saouy, I am infinitely obliged to your majesty for the justice you do me; but, since Noureddin has publicly affronted me, I humbly beg the favour that his execution may be performed before the palace, and, that the criers may publish it in every quarter of the city, that every body may be satisfied that he has made sufficient reparation for the affront. The king granted the request, and the criers, in performing their office, diffused a universal sorrow through the whole city. The memory of his father’s virtues being yet fresh among them, there was no one could hear of the ignominious death the son was going to suffer, through the villany and instigation of the vizier Saouy, without horror and indignation.
Saouy went in person to the prison, accompanied with twenty slaves, his ministers of cruelty, who took Noureddin out of his dungeon, and put him on a shabby horse without a saddle. When Noureddin saw himself in the hands of his enemy, Thou triumphest now, said he, but thou abusest thy power. Yet, I have still some confidence in the truth of what is written in one of our books: ‘You judge unjustly, and in a little time you shall be judged yourself.’ The vizier Saouy, who really triumphed in his heart, What! insolent, said he, darest thou insult me yet? but go, I pardon thee, and care not whatever happens to me, so I have the pleasure of seeing thee lose thy head in the public view of all Balsora. Thou oughtest also to remember what another of our books says: ‘What signifies dying the next day the death of his enemy?’
The vizier, still implacable and full of malice, surrounded by one part of his slaves in arms, ordered Noureddin to be conducted by the other towards the palace. The people were ready to fall upon him as they went along; and, if any body had set them the example, they would certainly have stoned him to death. When he had brought him to the place of suffering, which was in sight of the king’s apartment, he left him in the executioner’s hands, and went straight to the king, who was in his closet ready to glut his eyes with the bloody spectacle he had prepared.
The king’s guard and the vizier’s slaves, who made a circle round Noureddin, had much ado to withstand the people, who made all the efforts possible, but in vain, to break through them and carry him off by force. The executioner coming up to him, Sir, said he, I hope you will forgive me; I am but a slave, and cannot help doing my duty. If you have no occasion for any thing, I beseech you prepare yourself, for the king is just going to give me orders to strike the blow.
The poor unfortunate Noureddin, at that cruel moment, looked round upon the people: Will no charitable body, cried he, bring me a little water to quench my thirst? which immediately they did, and handed it up to him upon the scaffold. The vizier Saouy, perceiving this delay, called out to the executioner from the king’s closet window, where he had planted himself, Strike, what dost thou stay for? At these barbarous and inhuman words the whole palace echoed with loud imprecations against him; and the king, jealous of his authority, made it appear, by ordering him to stay a while, that he was angry at his presumption. But there was another reason; for the king that very moment casting his eyes up into a large street that faced him and joined to the place of execution, saw about the middle of it a troop of horsemen coming with full speed towards the palace. Vizier, said the king immediately, look yonder, what is the meaning of those horsemen? Saouy, who knew not what it might be, earnestly pressed the king to give the executioner the sign. No, replied the king, I will first see who these horsemen are. It was the vizier Giafar and his train, who came in person from Bagdad by the caliph’s order.
To make the occasion of this minister’s coming to Balsora a little plainer, we must observe, that after Noureddin’s departure with the caliph’s letter, the caliph the next day, nor several days after, ever thought of sending the patent that he mentioned to the Fair Persian. He happened one day to be in the inner palace, which was the women’s, and passing by the apartment, he heard the sound of a fine voice: he listened to it, and he had no sooner heard the words of one complaining for the absence of somebody, than he asked the officer of his eunuchs that attended him, who that woman was that belonged to that apartment. The officer told him that it was the young stranger’s slave, whom he had sent to Balsora to be king in the room of Mohammed Zinchi.
Ah! poor Noureddin, cried the caliph presently, I had forgot thee; but haste, said he to the officer, and bid Giafar come to me. The vizier was with him in an instant. As soon as he came, Giafar, said he, I have hitherto neglected sending the patent to Noureddin, which was to confirm him king of Balsora; but we have no time now to draw up one, therefore immediately take post-horses, and, with some of your servants, make what haste you can to Balsora. If Noureddin is dead, and put to death by them, order the vizier Saouy to be hanged; but, if he be living, bring him to me with the king and the vizier.
The grand vizier staid no longer than just the time of getting on horseback, and being attended by a great train of officers belonging to his house, he set forward for Balsora, where he arrived after the manner, and at the time above mentioned. As soon as he came to the palace-yard the people cleared the way for him, crying out, A pardon for Noureddin! and with his whole train he rode into the palace, even to the very stairs, where he alighted.
The king of Balsora knowing him to be the caliph’s chief minister, went to meet him, and received him at the entrance of his apartment. The first question the vizier asked was, if Noureddin was living; and, if he was, that he might be sent for. The king made answer, He was alive, and gave orders to have him brought in. Accordingly he soon made his appearance as he was, tied, and bound with cords. The grand vizier Giafar caused him to be untied, and setting him at liberty, ordered the vizier Saouy to be seized, and bound with the same cords.
The grand vizier Giafar lay but one night in Balsora. The next day he set out again for Bagdad; and, according to the order he had received, carried Saouy, the king of Balsora, and Noureddin along with him. As soon as he came to Bagdad, he presented them all to the caliph; and after he had given him an account of his journey, and particularly of the miserable condition he found Noureddin in, and that all his ill usage was purely by the advice and malice of Saouy, the caliph desired Noureddin to behead the vizier himself. Commander of the true believers, said Noureddin, notwithstanding the injury this wicked man has done me, and the mischief he endeavoured to do my deceased father, I should think myself the basest of mankind if I had stained my hands with his blood. The caliph was extremely pleased with his generosity, and ordered justice to be done by the executioner’s hand.