But, particularly, they behaved
themselves with great respect towards your majesty, and an entire
submission to the sentence of death. We die innocent, said they;
however, we do not murmur; we take our death as from the hand of
Heaven, and forgive our father; for we know very well he has not
been rightly informed of the truth.
Camaralzaman was sensibly touched at emir Giendar's relation,
and, putting his hand into prince Amgrad's pocket, he found an
open billet. He no sooner knew that queen Haiatalnefous wrote it,
as well by a lock of her hair which was in it, as by her
handwriting, than he froze with horror. He then, trembling, put
his hand into the pocket of Assad, and, finding there likewise
queen Badoura's billet, his surprise was so great and so lively
that he swooned away.
Never did man grieve like Camaralzaman when he was recovered from
swooning. Barbarous father as thou art! cried he, what hast thou
done? Thou hast murdered thy own children, thy innocent children!
Did not their wisdom, their modesty, their obedience, their
submission to thy will in all things, their virtue; did not these
all plead in their behalf--Blind and insensible father! dost thou
deserve to live after the execrable crime which thou hast
committed? I have brought this abomination on my own head, and
Heaven chastises me for not persevering in the aversion to women
with which I was born.
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