3- Codadad and His Brothers

The History of Codadad and His Brothers.

Those who have written the history of Diarbekir inform us that
there formerly reigned in the city of Harran a most magnificent
and potent sultan, who loved his subjects, and was equally
beloved by them. He was endued with all virtues, and wanted
nothing to complete his happiness but an heir. Though he had the
finest women in the world in his seraglio, yet was he destitute
of children. He continually prayed to heaven for them; and one
night in his sleep, a comely person, or rather a prophet,
appeared to him, and said, "Your prayers are heard; you have
obtained what you have desired; rise as soon as you awake, go to
your prayers, and make two genuflexions, then walk into the
garden of your palace, call your gardener, and bid him bring you
a pomegranate, eat as many of the seeds as you please, and your
wishes shall be accomplished."

The sultan calling to mind his dream when he awoke, returned
thanks to heaven, got up, prayed, made two genuflexions, and then
went into his garden, where he took fifty pomegranate seeds,
which he counted, and ate. He had fifty wives who shared his
bed; they all proved with child; but there was one called
Pirouzè, who did not appear to be pregnant. He took an aversion
to this lady, and would have her put to death. "Her barrenness,"
said he, "is a certain token that heaven does not judge Pirouzè
worthy to bear a prince; it is my duty to deliver the world from
an object that is odious to the Lord." He would have executed
his cruel purpose had not his vizier prevented him; representing
to him that all women were not of the same constitution, and that
it was not impossible but that Pirouzè might be with child,
though it did not yet appear. "Well," answered the sultan, "let
her live; but let her depart my court; for I cannot endure her."
"Your majesty," replied the vizier, "may send her to sultan
Samer, your cousin." The sultan approved of this advice; he sent
Pirouzè to Samaria, with a letter, in which he ordered his cousin
to treat her well, and, in case she proved with child, to give
him notice of her being brought to bed.

No sooner was Pirouzè arrived in that country, than it appeared
that she was pregnant, and at length she was delivered of a most
beautiful prince. The prince of Samaria wrote immediately to the
sultan of Harran, to acquaint him with the birth of a son, and to
congratulate him on the occasion. The sultan was much rejoiced
at this intelligence, and answered prince Samer as follows:
"Cousin, all my other wives have each been delivered of a prince.
I desire you to educate that of Pirouzè,