After this speech, [the king] himself expired; my uncle became ruler, and began to regulate the affairs of government.  He ordered me to remain in the seraglio, and that I should not come out of it until I reached [the years of] manhood.  Until my fourteenth year I was brought up among the princesses and female attendants, and used to play and frisk about.  Having heard of [my intended] marriage with my uncle’s daughter, I was quite happy, and on this hope I became thoughtless, and said to myself, that I shall now in a short time ascend the throne and be married; “the world is established on hope.” [384] I used often to go and sit with Mubarak, a negro slave, who had been brought up in my late father’s service, and in whom much confidence was [placed], as he was sensible and faithful.  He also had a great regard for me, and seeing me advancing to the years of manhood, he was much pleased, and used to say, “God be praised, O prince, you are now a young man, and, God willing, your uncle, the shadow of Omnipotence, will shortly fulfil the injunctions [of your late father], and give you his daughter, and your father’s throne.”

One day, it happened that a common female slave gave me, without cause, such a slap, that the marks of her five fingers remained on my cheek.  I went, weeping, to Mubarak; he clasped me to his bosom, and wiped away my tears with his sleeve, and said, “Come, I will conduct you to-day to the king; he will perhaps be kind to you on seeing yon, and, conceiving you qualified [in years], he may give up to you your rights.”  He led me immediately to my uncle’s presence; my uncle showed me great affection before the court, and asked me, “why are you so sad, and wherefore are you come here to-day?” Mubarak replied, “He is come here to say something [to your majesty].”  On hearing this, he said of himself, “I will shortly marry the young prince.” Mubarak answered, “It will be a most joyful event.”  The king immediately sent for the astrologers and diviners into his presence, and with feigned interest asked them, “In this year what month, what day, and what hour is auspicious, that I may order the preparations for the prince’s marriage?” They perceiving what were [the king’s real wishes], made their calculations, and said, “Mighty sire, the whole of this year is unpropitious; no day in any of the lunar months appears happy; if this whole year pass in safety, then the next is most propitious for a happy marriage.”

The king looked towards Mubarak, and said, “Reconduct the prince to the seraglio, if God willing, after this year is over, I will deliver up my trust to him; let him make himself perfectly easy, and attend to his studies,” Mubarak made his salam, and taking me along with him, reconducted me to the seraglio.  Two or three days after this, I went to Mubarak; on seeing me, he began to weep; I was surprised, and asked him, saying, “My father, is all well? what is the cause of your weeping?”