Story of a Sultan of Yemen and his three Sons.

It has been related, that in the kingdom of Yemen there was a sultan who had three sons, two of whom were born of the same mother, and the third of another wife, with whom becoming disgusted from some caprice, and having degraded her to the station of a domestic, he suffered her and her son to live unnoticed among the servants of the haram.  The two former, one day, addressed their father, requesting his permission to hunt:  upon which he presented them each with a horse of true blood, richly caparisoned, and ordered proper domestics to attend them to the chase.

When they had departed, the unfortunate youngest brother repaired to his unhappy mother, and expressed his wishes to enjoy, like the elder princes, the pleasures of the field.  “My son,” replied she, “it is not in my power to procure thee a horse or other necessaries.”  Upon this he wept bitterly; when she gave him some of her silver ornaments, which he took, and having sold them, with the price purchased a foundered steed.  Having mounted it, and provided himself with some bread, he followed the track of his brothers for two days, but on the third lost his way.  After wandering two days more he beheld upon the plain a string of emeralds and pearls, which shone with great lustre.  Having taken it up, he wreathed it round his turban, and returned homewards exulting in his prize; but when he had arrived near the city his brothers met him, pulled him from his horse, beat him, and forced it from him.  He excelled them both in prowess and vigour, but he was fearful of the sultan’s displeasure, and his mother’s safety, should he punish his insulters.  He therefore submitted to the indignity and loss, and retired.

The two cowardly princes entered the palace, and presented the string of jewels to the sultan; who, after admiring it, said, “I shall not rest satisfied till the bird arrives to whom this certainly must have belonged:”  upon which the brothers replied, “We will travel in search of it, and bring it to our august father and sultan.”

Preparations being made, the brothers departed, and the youngest prince having mounted his lame steed followed them.  After three days’ journey he reached an arid desert, which having passed over by great exertion, he arrived almost exhausted at a city; which on entering he found resounding with the shrieks of lamentation and woe.  At length he met with a venerable old man, to whom having made a respectful salute, he inquired of him the cause of such universal mourning.  “My son,” replied the old man, “on a certain day during the last forty-three years, a terrible monster has appeared before our city, demanding a beautiful virgin to be delivered up to him, threatening to destroy it in case of refusal.  Unable to defend ourselves, we have complied with his demand, and the damsels of the city have drawn lots for the dreadful sacrifice; but this year the chance has fallen upon the beautiful daughter of our sultan.  This is the day of the monster’s usual arrival, and we are involved in universal lamentation for her unhappy fate.”