AHMED AND PARI-BANOU. 489

seized with fright at the appearance of so hideous a figure, and
ran and hid themselves in their shops, or in their houses, the
doors of which they instantly shut ; others took flight, and com-
municated the same alarm to those they met, who instantly
turned back without once looking behind them. In this manner,
as Schaibar and Prince Ahmed advanced in a regular pace,
they found the greatest solitude in all the streets through which
they passed in their way to the palace. When they arrived there
the porters, instead of trying at least to prevent Schaibar from
going in, endeavoured to save themselves on all sides, and left
the entrance quite free. The prince and Schaibar, therefore,
advanced without the least obstruction to the council hall,
where the sultan was seated upon his throne giving audience ;
and as all the officers and attendants had abandoned their post
as soon as Schaibar made his appearance, they entered without
the least hindrance.

Schaibar, with his head erect, haughtily approached the
throne, and without waiting for Prince Ahmed to present him,
thus addressed the sultan: “Thou hast demanded my presence.
See, here 1am. What dost thou wish of me?”

The sultan, however, instead of answering, put his hands
before his eyes, and turned them away, in order to avoid the
sight of so dreadful an object. Schaibar was enraged at this
uncivil and offensive reception, after he had taken the trouble of
coming. He lifted up, therefore, his bar of iron, and exclaim-
ing, “ Wilt thou not speak then ?” let it fall directly on his head,
and crushed him to theearth. He did this before Prince Ahmed
had the power of requesting his patience. It was now as much
as he was able to do to prevent him from destroying the grand
vizier, who was close to the sultan’s right hand. And he pre-
vailed upon him, only by representing that the advice he always
gave the sultan his father was very equitable and excellent.
“Where then are they,” exclaimed Schaibar, “who have given
him such execrable advice?” And saying this, he destroyed all
the other viziers who were on both sides the throne, and all the
favourites and parasites of the sultan, who were the enemies of
Prince Ahmed. In short, death followed every blow, and none
escaped except those whose fear was not so powerful as to fix
them to the very spot, and thus prevent them from saving their
lives by flight,