ngs of the Chosroes before thee
greater mishaps and more grievous than that which hath befallen thee,
and indeed I have set forth unto thee that which happened to Caliphs and
Kings and others with their women, but the relation is longsome, and
hearkening groweth tedious, and in this is all-sufficient warning for
the man of wits and admonishment for the wise." Then she ceased to
speak, and when King Shahryar heard her speech and profited by that
which she had said, he summoned up his reasoning powers and cleansed his
heart and caused his understanding to revert, and turned to Allah
Almighty and said to himself, "Since there befell the Kings of the
Chosroes more than that which hath befallen me, never whilst I live
shall I cease to blame myself for the past. As for this Shahrazad, her
like is not found in the lands; so praise be to Him Who appointed her a
means for delivering His creatures from oppression and slaughter!" Then
he arose from his seance and kissed her head, whereat she rejoiced, she
and her sister Dunyazad, with exceeding joy.

When the morning morrowed the King went forth, and sitting down on the
throne of the Kingship, summoned the Lords of his land; whereupon the
Chamberlains and Nabobs and Captains of the host went in to him and
kissed ground before him. He distinguished the Wazir, Shahrazad's sire,
with special favor and bestowed on him a costly and splendid robe of
honor, and entreated him with the utmost kindness, and said to him,
"Allah protect thee for that thou gavest me to wife thy noble daughter,
who hath been the means of my repentance from slaying the daughters of
folk. Indeed, I have found her pure and pious, chaste and ingenuous, and
Allah hath vouchsafed me by her three boy children; wherefore praised be
He for His passing favor." Then he bestowed robes of honor upon his
Wazirs and Emirs and Chief Officers and he set forth to them briefly
that which had betided him with Shahrazad, and how he had turned from
his former ways and repented him of what he had done, and proposed to
take the Wazir's daughter Shahrazad to wife, and let draw up the
marriage-contract with her. When those who were present heard this, they
kissed ground before him and blessed him and his betrothed Shahrazad,
and the Wazir thanked her.

Then Shahryar made an end of his sitting in all weal, whereupon the folk
dispersed to their dwelling-places, and the news was bruited abroad that
the King proposed to marry the Wazir's d