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<TITLE>Tale 9</TITLE>
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<FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="TimeScrDMed">Tale Of King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons Sharrkan And Zau Al-Makan,</FONT><br>
<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="TimeScrDMed">And What Befel Them of Things Seld-Seen and Peregrine.<a name="138"> </a><a href="v2notes.htm#138" target=v2_Bottom>[FN#138]</a>
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<P>The King asked her, "And what was their story?" and she answered: It hath reached me, O
auspicious King, that there was in the City of Safety, Baghdad, before the Caliphate of Abd al-Malik bin Marwán,<a name="139"> </a><a href="v2notes.htm#139" target=v2_Bottom>[FN#139]</a> a King, Omar bin al-Nu'umán highs, who was of the mighty giants
and had subjected the Chosroës of Persia and the Kaysars of Eastern Rome; for none could warm
himself at his fire;<a name="140"> </a><a href="v2notes.htm#140" target=v2_Bottom>[FN#140]</a> nor could any avail to meet him in the field of foray and fray; and,
when he was angered, there came forth from his nostrils sparks of flame. He had made himself
King over all quarters, and Allah had subjected to him all His creatures; his word went forth to all
great cities and his hosts had harried the farthest lands. East and West had come under his
command with whatsoever regions lay interspersed between them, Hind and Sind and
Sin,<a name="141"> </a><a href="v2notes.htm#141" target=v2_Bottom>[FN#141]</a> the Holy Land, Al-Hijaz, the rich mountains of Al-Yaman and the archipelagos of
India and China. Moreover, he reigned supreme over the north country and Diyár Bakr, or
Mesopotamia, and over Sudán, the Eastern Negro land and the Islands of the Ocean, and all the
far famed rivers of the earth, Sayhún and Jayhún,<a name="142"> </a><a href="v2notes.htm#142" target=v2_Bottom>[FN#142]</a> Nile and Euphrates. He sent envoys
and ambassadors to capitals the most remote, to provide him with true report; and they would
bring back tidings of justice and peace, with assurance of loyalty and obedience and of prayers in
the pulpits for King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; for he was, O Ruler of the Age, a right noble King; and
there came to him presents of rarities and toll and tribute from all lands of his governing. This
mighty monarch had a son yclept Sharrkan,<a name="143"> </a><a href="v2notes.htm#143" target=v2_Bottom>[FN#143]</a> who was likest of all men to his father and
who proved himself one of the prodigies of his time for subduing the brave and bringing his
contemporaries to bane and ban. For this his father loved him with love so great none could be
greater, and made him heir to the kingdom after himself. This Prince grew up till he reached
man's estate and was twenty years old, and Allah subjected His servants to him, by reason of his
great might and prowess in battle. Now his father, King Omar, had four wives legally married,
but Allah had vouchsafed him no son by them, save Sharrkan, whom he had begotten upon one of
them, and the rest were barren. Moreover he had three hundred and sixty concubines, after the
number of days in the Coptic year, who were of all nations; and he had furnished for each and
every a private chamber within his own palace. For he had built twelve pavilions, after the
number of the months, each containing thirty private chambers, which thus numbered three
hundred and three score, wherein he lodged his handmaids: and he appointed according to law for
each one her night, when he lay with her and came not again to her for a full year;<a name="144"> </a><a href="v2notes.htm#144" target=v2_Bottom>[FN#144]</a> and
on this wise he abode for a length of time. Meanwhile his son Sharrkan was making himself
renowned in all quarters of the world and his father was proud of him and his might waxed and
grew mightier; so that he passed all bounds and bore himself masterfully and took by storm castles
and cities. Presently, by decree of the Decreer, a handmaid among the handmaids of Omar bin
Nu'uman became pregnant; and, her pregnancy being announced to the Harim, the King was
informed thereof; whereupon he rejoiced with exceeding joy and said, "Haply it will be a son, and
so all my offspring will be males!" Then he documented the date of her conception and entreated
her with all manner of kindness. But when the tidings came to Sharrkan, he was troubled and the
matter seemed to him a sore one and a grievous; and he said, "Verily one cometh who shall
dispute with me the sovereignty:" so quoth he to himself, "If this concubine bear a male child I
will kill it:" but he kept that intention hidden in his heart. Such was the case with Sharrkan; but
what happened in the matter of the damsel was as follows. She was a Roumiyah, a Greek girl, by
name Sofiyah or Sophia,<a name="145"> </a><a href="v2notes.htm#145" target=v2_Bottom>[FN#145]</a> whom the King of Roum and Lord of Cæsarea had sent to
King Omar as a present, together with great store of gifts and of rarities: she was the fairest of
favour and loveliest of all his handmaids and the most regardful of her honour; and she was gifted
with a wit as penetrating as her presence was fascinating. Now she had served the King on the
night of his sleeping with her, saying to him, "O King! I desire of the God of the Heavens that he
bless thee this night with a male child by me, so I may bring him up with the best of rearing, and
enable him to reach man's estate perfect in intelligence, good manners and prudent
bearing"<a name="146"> </a><a href="v2notes.htm#146" target=v2_Bottom>[FN#146]</a>--a speech which much pleased the King. During her pregnancy she was instant
in prayer, fervently supplicating the Lord to bless her with a goodly male child and make his birth
easy to her; and Allah heard her petition so that after her months were accomplished she sat safely
upon the birth stool.<a name="147"> </a><a href="v2notes.htm#147" target=v2_Bottom>[FN#147]</a> Now the King had deputed a eunuch to let him know if the child
she should bring forth were male or female; and in like way his son Sharrkan had sent one to bring
him tidings of the same. In due time Sophia was delivered of a child, which the midwives
examined and found to be a girl with a face sheenier than the moon. So they announced this to all
present in the room, whereupon the King's messenger carried the news to him; and Sharrkan's
eunuch did the like with his master who rejoiced with exceeding joy. But, after the two had
departed, quoth Sophia to the midwives, "Wait with me awhile, for I feel as if there were still
somewhat in my womb." Then she cried out and the pains of child bed again took her; and Allah
made it easy to her and she gave birth to a second child. The wise women looked at it and found
it a boy like the full moon, with forehead flower white, and cheek ruddy bright with rosy light;
whereupon the mother rejoiced, as did the eunuchs and attendants and all the company; and
Sophia was delivered of the after birth whilst all in the palace sent forth the trill of joy.<a name="148"> </a><a href="v2notes.htm#148" target=v2_Bottom>[FN#148]</a>
The rest of the concubines heard it and envied her lot; and the tidings reached Omar son of Al-
Nu'uman, who was glad and rejoiced at the excellent news. Then he rose and went to her and
kissed her head, after which he looked at the boy; and, bending over him, kissed him, whilst the
damsels struck the tabors and played on instruments of music;