to Noureddin’s apartment, but was much surprised when he understood, that, under pretence of taking a journey of two or three days, he had gone away on a mule the same day that the sultan went a hunting, and never appeared since.  This circumstance vexed him so much the more, beeause he did not doubt that the hard words he had used were the cause of his going away.  He sent a messenger in search of him, who went to Damascus, and as far as Aleppo, but Noureddin was then at Balsora.  When the courier returned, and brought word that he heard no news of him, Schemseddin intended to make further inquiry after him in other parts; but in the mean time had a fancy to marry, and obtained the daughter of one of the greatest lords in Cairo upon the same day that his brother married the daughter of the grand vizier of Balsora.

But this is not all, said Giafar; at the end of nine months, Schemseddin’s wife was delivered of a daughter at Cairo, and on the same day Noureddin’s wife had a son at Balsora, who was named Bedreddin Hassan.  The grand vizier of Balsora testified his joy for the birth of his grandson by great gifts and public entertainments; and, to show his son-in-law the great esteem he had for him, he went to the palace, and begged the sultan to grant Noureddin his office, that he might have the comfort, before his death, to see his son-in-law made grand vizier his stead.  The sultan, who had taken a great liking to Noureddin when his father presented him after his marriage, and had ever since heard every body speak well of him, readily granted his father-in-law’s request, and caused Noureddin immediately to put on the robe of a grand vizier.  The next day, when the father saw his son-in-law preside in council as he himself had done, and perform all the offices of grand vizier, his joy was complete.  Noureddin behaved himself so well in every thing, that one would have thought he had been all his lifetime employed in such affairs.  He continued afterwards to assist in council every time when the infirmities of age would not permit his father-in-law to appear.  The old gentleman died about four years after, and Noureddin performed the last duties to him with all possible love and gratitude.  As soon as his son Bedreddin had attained to seven years of age, he provided him a most excellent tutor, who taught him as became his birth.  The child had a ready wit, a genius capable of receiving all the instructions that could be given, and, after having been two years under the tuition of his master, learned the alcoran by heart.  His father Noureddin put him afterwards to other tutors, by whom his mind was cultivated to such a degree, that, when he was twelve years of age, he had no more occasion for them; and then, as his physiognomy promised wonders, he was admired by all.