"Bird," cried the Emperor, "I believe the truth which you reveal to me. The feeling which drew me to them told me plainly that they must be my own kin. Come, then, my sons, come, my daughter, let me embrace you, and give you the first marks of a father's tender love." Weepi ng tears of joy they embraced one another, the Emperor finished his meal in haste, and said: "My children, tomorrow I will bring the Queen your mother, therefore make ready to receive her." He set out at once for the city, where the first thing he did was to order the Queen's two sisters to be put to death. Then, followed by many lords of his court, he went to the great mosque, and called forth the Queen from the shed where she had languished so man y years, and embracing her in her wretchedplight before all the people, told her with tears in his eyes how he had been deceived, and begged forgiveness for the wrong he had done her. "Soon," he said, "you shall see the Princes and the Princess, our lovely children. Come, and take your former rank, with all the honors which are your due." The glad news spread quickly through the city, in the early next morning, the Emperor and the Queen, whose mournful dress had been changed for rich robes, set out with all their court for house of the Princes Bahman and Perviz and the Princess Periezadeh. | 「鸟儿!」陛下嚷道:「我相信你对我揭露的是实情。 因为一种牵引着我对他们的情感明白的告诉我,他们一定是我的血亲。 既然这样过来吧!我的儿子,来吧!我的女儿,让我拥抱你们,给予你们父亲真情之爱的最初表示。」 他们互相拥抱喜极而泣,陛下赶快吃完饭,说道:「我的孩子!明天我要带王后──你们的母亲到这儿来,所以你们要准备迎接她。」 他立刻启程回到宫中,第一件事是命令将王后的两个姊姊处以死刑。 然后他带着许多朝中大臣到大教堂,从茅屋里传唤出正在哭泣的王后,她憔悴的在这里已经好多年了。于是在众人面前,在她如此可怜的情形下,皇帝拥抱了她,且眼中含着泪告诉她,他是怎样被人欺骗,又请求原谅他对她的虐待。 「不久,」他说道:「你就会见到王子和公主,我们可爱的孩子。 过来,接下你往日的封号,享受你应得的尊荣。」 C 喜讯迅速的传遍了全城,于是在翌日清晨,皇帝和王后──她悲哀的外衣已换上尊贵的服装,和所有的官员,出发到巴伦和托维斯王子以及公主特侣嘉的家中来。 |