"
At these words the fathers of the fifty boys cried out aloud, the mothers
repeated their exclamations an octave higher, whilst the rest, without
knowing the cause, soon drowned the voices of both with still louder
lamentations of their own.
"Our Caliph," said they--and the report soon circulated--"Our Caliph has
played us this trick to gratify his accursed Giaour. Let us punish him
for his perfidy! let us avenge ourselves! let us avenge the blood of the
innocent! let us throw this cruel prince into the gulf that is near, and
let his name be mentioned no more!"
At this rumour and these menaces, Carathis, full of consternation,
hastened to Morakanabad, and said: "Vizir, you have lost two beautiful
boys, and must necessarily be the most afflicted of fathers, but you are
virtuous; save your master."
"I will brave every hazard," replied the vizir, "to rescue him from his
present danger, but afterwards will abandon him to his fate. Bababalouk,"
continued he, "put yourself at the head of your eunuchs; disperse the
mob, and, if possible, bring back this unhappy prince to his palace."
Bababalouk and his fraternity, felicitating each other in a low voice on
their disability of ever being fathers, obeyed the mandate of the vizir;
who, seconding their exertions to the utmost of his power, at length
accomplished his generous enterprise, and retired as he resolved, to
lament at his leisure.
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