REWARD.
The next day, after the King had heard the history of her imprisonment
related by his daughter, and with what devotion Haschem had watched
over her, and when Haschem had narrated his history, Kadga Singa was
very thoughtful, and caused his council to assemble to deliberate how
they should reward him.
"If he were not so young," said some of them, "he might be made Grand
Vizier, the next in dignity to the King, or be appointed Governor of a
province. But his youth prevents his being raised over the people next
to the King."
After longer consultation, the eldest of the councillors rose, and
said, "Kadga Singa, my King and lord. The youth has certainly
performed a great service to you and the Princess Handa; therefore it
seems to me that his reward ought to come from you. It seems to me
that the King, having received from him good in his family, must
reward him from his family. Were I in such a case, I would appoint him
as Mundiana, and give him for a wife the daughter whom he has
restored."
The whole assembly were of the same opinion, and the King gave them to
understand that this was also his wish.
"I am old," he said, "and can easily perceive that the cares of this
land will soon need other hands to support them. I shall be much
pleased to see my daughter with a noble husband. Prince Mundian Oppu
has disappeared, whom I had before chosen; and this youth, although of
meaner origin, is of noble soul, and will soon, under my guidance,
acquire the necessary circumspection to promote justice and order in
my kingdom."
He did not delay, but immediately caused Haschem to be called. A
costly band of gold and silver was fastened round his forehead, and
the King then said, "I herewith appoint you Mundiana."
And the assembled councillors cried out, "We congratulate you, hail,
Mundiana!"
But Haschem laughed, and said, "Forgive my ignorance: what is
Mundiana?"
The eldest councillor stepped forward, and said, "This name points out
the highest step of honour which the King can bestow. You are found
worthy of this honour; and no other lives who bears this title,
because Prince Mundian Oppu has disappeared."
An elephant covered with costly trappings was now brought in by its
keeper, and upon it was a richly ornamented seat. On this the new
Mundiana was placed, and led through the streets. Heralds went before
him, and cried aloud, "Listen to what Kadga Singa makes known to all
people. This youth has restored to him his dearest jewel which he had
lost. In gratitude, the King has nominated him Mundiana, and has
appointed his daughter Handa for his wife. To-morrow will the
betrothal be celebrated; and everybody is requested to come into the
court of the palace to partake of the joy of the festival."
Haschem knew not how all this had come about. He received clothes and
rich arms as a present from the King; and the King so highly favoured
him that he was not only to be husband of the Princess Handa, but was
to succeed Kadga Singa on the throne, and to reign over that beautiful
and rich land. In this happiness he forgot his early life, his
father's sorrow, and even Zoraine his playfellow in youth, his
father's faithful friend Saad, and thought no more of his home or his
fatherland. The next day his betrothal with the Princess was
celebrated with great pomp.
The Princess had willingly yielded to her father's wish, without
manifesting any particular joy, or showing any affection for her
future husband; although she felt very friendly towards him, and
treated him with great respect and attention, as her grateful heart
did not forget in prosperity how much she had owed to him in
misfortune.
The first days and weeks passed in the delights of joy: then he was
introduced by the King into the council, and taught the business of
the State. The King and councillors had often reason to wonder at his
acuteness in judgment in difficult cases, and, above all, at his
perception of right and wrong. Soon no sentence was pronounced without
his opinion being first consulted; and it often happened that it was
contrary to that of the rest of the council; but the reasons for his
decision always prevailed. In all lands the justice and wisdom of the
King's future son-in-law were praised, and it was hoped that fortune
would permit him to rule over the land.
A whole year had now elapsed, and the day was fast approaching when he
was to marry the Princess and ascend the throne. One day, as usual, he
sought his betrothed, the Princess Handa, in her apartments. As he was
announced by a servant, he went in quickly, and saw the Princess
hastily wiping her eyes; and as he drew nearer, he found the traces of
her tears. Sympathizing with her, he asked the cause of her grief, and
she tried to avoid answering him; but as he continued to urge her, she
at last said, "I dare tell you why these tears flow, because you are
good and compassionate, and will not consider it a crime that I have a
feeling and sympathizing heart. You know that I was formerly beloved
by Prince Mundian Oppu, the son of the neighbouring King. I related
to you that this Prince was changed into a blackbird by the enchanter,
and flew from the ship to the promontory of the island where our
country seat was situated. Now, I must tell you that I grieve so much
the more about this Prince's fate, as from my own change I can
compassionate his mournful condition. I could not repress this desire,
and I have obtained certain news of his life and present condition by
the secret knowledge of a clever Tirinaxian. And in this manner I have
learned that he still lives in his new form, and that he has flown,
from fear of the snares of the hunter, whom we call Dodda Waddas, out
of the land into distant regions; and that it is ordained by fate that
he shall never regain his human form if I give my hand to another
husband. Sorrow at this mournful destiny has drawn these tears from my
eyes, the traces of which you observed."
This narrative made a deep impression on Haschem: he discovered also
that Handa had acceded to her father's wish only from gratitude and
filial obedience, whilst her affection was fixed on the absent Prince.
He saw that he must purchase the good fortune to be husband of the
noble Princess, and son-in-law of the great King Kadga Singa, and
after him to be King of Selandia, only by the misfortunes of Prince
Mundian Oppu. He asked himself if this were right, and was obliged to
confess that his reason and knowledge of justice and honour were
opposed to it. He saw that the intoxication of good fortune had
hitherto blinded him. Then the remembrance of his father came before
him, and he imagined him pining away at the uncertainty of his son's
fate. He bitterly reproached himself for his long forgetfulness, and
for not having sent an embassy to announce his safe arrival in
Selandia.
Scarcely had these thoughts and feelings arisen in his breast, than he
made up his mind. He took Handa's hand, and promised her that he would
do all he could to find her former lover, and restore him to her. Then
he went to the King, told him all, and begged him to let him go to
fulfil a son's duty to a father whom he had too long neglected. Kadga
Singa sighed deeply at these disclosures of his future son-in-law: he
proposed to send a ship to bring his father, so that he might end his
life in sharing his son's good fortune and companionship. But Haschem
declared to him, with determination, that he could never be his
son-in-law or successor to the throne.
"I cannot purchase such good fortune at another's expense," said he.
"It was otherwise before I knew the decision of fate; but now that I
know the Prince Mundian Oppu must, through my happiness, always remain
in his present condition, if I thus take away the possibility of his
ever returning to human form, I should be in the highest degree
culpable. Therefore I voluntarily give up my good fortune."
All the persuasions and urgings of Kadga Singa were useless. The
councillors also, and the Grand Vizier and the Governors of the
provinces, begged him to continue in the land, and to take still more
share in the government. He remained firm in his resolution. He
promised the Princess, who was astonished at his honourable spirit,
that as soon as he had seen and comforted his father, he would demand
information of Prince Mundian Oppu from all the sages and magicians of
his native land, and that he would try all means to restore him to his
former condition. As he was determined to set out, the King gave him
costly presents, besides many precious stones from his treasury, and
provided him with a ship, and all necessaries for the voyage. He took
leave, and the good wishes of all who knew him accompanied him.