through the city, to see that the inhabitants kept good order and discipline.  This minister, casting his eye by chance on Noureddin, and finding something extraordinary in his aspect, looked very attentively upon him, and as he came near him, and saw him in a traveller’s habit, he stood still, asked him who he was, and from whence he came?  Sir, said Noureddin, I am an Egyptian, born at Cairo, and have left my country, because of the unkindness of a near relation, and am resolved to travel through the world, and rather to die than return home again.  The grand vizier, who was a reverend old gentleman, after hearing those words, says to him, Son, beware, do not pursue your design; there is nothing but misery in the world; you are not sensible of the hardships you must endure; come follow me, I may perhaps make you forget the thing that has forced you to leave your own country.  Noureddin followed the grand vizier, who soon perceived his good qualities, and fell so much in love with him, that one day he said to him in private, My son, I am, as you see, so far gone in years, that there is no likelihood I shall live much longer.  Heaven has bestowed only one daughter upon me, who is beautiful as you are handsome, and now fit for marriage.  Several people of the greatest quality at this court have desired her for their sons, but I could not grant their request.  I have a love for you, and think you so worthy to be received into my family, that, preferring you before all those that have sought her, I am ready to accept you for my son-in-law.  If you like the proposal, I will acquaint the sultan my master that I have adopted you by this marriage, and will pray him to grant you the reversion of my dignity of grand vizier in the kingdom, of Balsora.  In the meantime, nothing being more requisite for me than ease in my old age, I will not put you in possession of my estate, but leave the administration of public affairs to your management.  Having made an end of this kind and generous proposal, Noureddin fell at his feet, and expressing himself in terms that demonstrated his joy and gratitude, told the vizier that he was at his command in every thing.  Upon this the vizier sent for his chief domestics, ordered them to furnish the great hall of his palace, and to prepare a great feast.  He afterwards sent to invite the nobility of the court and city to honour him with their company, and when they were all met, (Noureddin having now told him who he was,) he said to those lords, for he thought it proper to speak thus on purpose to satisfy such of them to whom he had refused his alliance:  I am now, my lords, to discover a thing to you which I have hitherto kept a secret.  I have a brother who is grand vizier to the sultan of Egypt, as I am to the sultan of this kingdom.  This brother has but one son, whom he would not marry in the court of Egypt, but sent him hither to marry my daughter, that both our branches may be reunited.  His son, whom I knew to be my nephew as soon as I saw him,