THE TWO SISTERS. 499

punishment of your sisters who had robbed us of our children,
and I hope you will consider it as completed when I shall have
presented you with two accomplished princes and an amiable and
charming princess, all of whom are our own ofispring. Come,
then, and reassume the rank which belongs to you, with every
honour that is your due.”

This reparation was made before a multitude of people, who
had collected in crowds from every part on the first report of
what was going forward, the knowledge of which was very soon
spread all over the city.

Very early the next morning, the sultan and sultana, the latter
of whom had changed her dress of humiliation and affliction,
which she had worn the preceding day, for the most magnificent
robes, such as suited her rank, followed by all the court in regu-
lar order, set out for the house of their children. When they

- were arrived, and as soon as they had alighted, the sultan pre-
sented the sultana to Prince Bahman, Prince Perviz, and Prin-
cess Parizadé. “Behold, madam,” he exclaimed, “your two
sons and your daughter! Embrace them with the same tender-
ness and affection I have done, for they are worthy of us both.”
During this affecting introduction, tears, but they were those of
joy, fell in abundance from the eyes of all, but chiefly from the
sultana, from the excess of her feelings at embracing three chil-
dren who had been the cause of her long and severe afflictions.

The two princes and the princess had prepared a most mag-
nificent repast for the sultan, sultana, and all the court. They
then sat down at table, and after the repast was finished the
sultan carried the sultana into the garden, where he pointed out
to her the singing tree, and the fine effect of the golden water.
Nor did he forget to direct her attention to the talking bird, in
praise of which he spoke very highly.

When nothing remained to detain the sultan any longer he
mounted his horse. Prince Bahman accompanied him on his
right and Prince Perviz on his left, while the sultana, with the
princess on her left hand, followed the sultan. In this order,
with some of the officers of the court preceding and others fol-
lowing them, each according to his rank, they pursued the road
to the capital. As they approached the city, the people came
out in crowds, even to some distance from the gates, and they
looked as much at the sultana, and rejoiced with her at her hap-