Meanwhile, Belehwan the froward addressed himself to pay court to Caesar, King of the Greeks,[FN#131] and seek help of him in making war upon his father, and he inclined unto him and gave him a numerous army.  His father the king heard of this and sent to Caesar, saying, ’O king of illustrious might, succour not an evil-doer.  This is my son and he hath done thus and thus and cut his brother’s throat and that of his brother’s son in the cradle.’  But he told not the King of the Greeks that the child [had recovered and] was alive.  When Caesar heard [the truth] of the matter, it was grievous to him and he sent back to Suleiman Shah, saying, ’If it be thy will, O king, I will cut off his head and send it to thee.’  But he made answer, saying, ’I reck not of him:  the reward of his deed and his crimes shall surely overtake him, if not to-day, then to-morrow.’  And from that day he continued to correspond with Caesar and to exchange letters and presents with him.

Now the king of the Greeks heard tell of the damsel[FN#132] and of the beauty and grace wherewith she was gifted, wherefore his heart clave to her and he sent to seek her in marriage of Suleiman Shah, who could not refuse him.  So he arose and going in to Shah Khatoun, said to her, ’O my daughter, the king of the Greeks hath sent to me to seek thee in marriage.  What sayst thou?’ She wept and answered, saying, ’O king, how canst thou find it in thy heart to bespeak me thus?  Abideth there husband for me, after the son of my uncle?’ ‘O my daughter,’ rejoined the king, ’it is indeed as thou sayest; but let us look to the issues of affairs.  Needs must I take account of death, for that I am an old man and fear not but for thee and for thy little son; and indeed I have written to the king of the Greeks and others of the kings and said, “His uncle slew him,” and said not that he [hath recovered and] is living, but concealed his affair.  Now hath the king of the Greeks sent to demand thee in marriage, and this is no thing to be refused and fain would we have our back strengthened with him."[FN#133] And she was silent and spoke not.

So King Suleiman Shah made answer unto Caesar with ’Hearkening and obedience.’  Then he arose and despatched her to him, and Cassar went in to her and found her overpassing the description wherewithal they had described her to him; wherefore he loved her with an exceeding love and preferred her over all his women and his love for Suleiman Shah was magnified; but Shah Khatoun’s heart still clave to her son and she could say nought.  As for Suleiman Shah’s rebellious son, Belehwan, when he saw that Shah Khatoun had married the king of the Greeks, this was grievous to him and he despaired of her.  Meanwhile, his father Suleiman Shah kept strait watch over the child and cherished him and named him Melik Shah, after the name of his father.  When he reached the age of ten, he made the folk swear fealty to him and appointed him his heir apparent, and after some days, [the hour of] the old king’s admission [to the mercy of God] drew near and he died.