But when Sharrkan heard that he had a brother （for to that time he knew only of his sister） he turned to his sire and said to him，'O King，hast thou a son other than myself？'He answered，'Yes，and he is now six years old；'adding that his name was Zau al-Makan and that he and Nuzhat al-Zaman were twins，born at a birth.This news was grievous to Sharrkan，but he kept his secret and said，'The bless- ing of Allah Most High be upon them！'and he cast the jewel from his hand and shook the dust off his clothes.Quoth the King，'How do I see thee change thy manner when hearing of this，considering that after me thou becomes'heir of the kingdom.Of a truth the troops have sworn to thee and the Emirs and Grandees have taken the oath of succession to thee； and this one of the three jewels is thine.'
Sharrkan bowed his head to the ground and was ashamed to bandy words with his parent so he accepted the jewel and went away，knowing not what to do for exceeding wrath，and stayed not walking till he had entered Abrizah's palace.As he approached she stood up to meet him and thanked him for what he had done and prayed for blessings on him and his sire.Then she sat down and seated him by her side；but when he had taken his place she saw rage in his face and questioned him，whereupon he told her that Allah had blessed his father with two children by Sophia，a boy and a girl，and that he had named the boy Zau al-Makan and the girl Nuzhat al-Zaman；adding，'He hath kept the other two jewels for them and hath given me one of thine，so I left it behind；I knew naught of Zau al-Makan's birth till this day，and the twain are now six years old.So when I learnt this，wrath possessed me；and I tell thee the reason of my rage and hide nothing from thee.But now I fear lest my father take thee to wife，for he loveth thee and I saw in him signs of desire for thee：so what wilt thou say，if he wish this？'Quoth she，'Know，O Sharrkan，that thy father hath no dominion over me，nor can he have me without my consent； and if he prevail over me by force，I will take my own life.As for the three jewels，it was not my intent that he should give any of them to either of his children and I had no thought but that he would lay them up in his treasury with his things of price； but now I desire of thy favour that thou make me a present of the jewel which he gave thee，if thou have accepted it.''Hearkening and obedience，'replied Sharrkan，and gave it to her.Then said she，'Fear nothing，'and talked with him awhile and continued，'I fear lest my father hear that I am with you and sit not patiently under my loss，but do his endeavours to find me；and to that end he may ally himself with King Afridun，on account of his daughter Sophia，and both come on thee with armies and so there befal great turmoil.'When Sharrken heard these words，he said to her，'O my lady，if it please thee to sojourn with us，take no thought of them；though there gather together against us all that be on land and on sea.''Tis well，'rejoined she；'if ye entreat me fair，I will tarry with you，and if ye deal evilly by me，I will depart from you.'Then she bade her slave maidens bring food； so they set the tables，and Sharrkan ate a little and went away to his own house，disturbed and perturbed.Such was his case； but regarding the affairs of his father，Omar bin al-Nu'uman，after dismissing his son Sharrkan he arose and，taking the other two jewels，betook himself to the Lady Sophia，who stood up when she saw him and remained standing till he was seated.Presently，his two children，Zau al-Makan and Nuzhat al-Zaman，came to him and he kissed them and hung a jewel round each one's neck，at which they rejoiced and kissed his hands.Then went they to their mother，who joyed in their joy and wished the King long life； so he asked her，'Why hast thou not informed me all this time that thou art the daughter of King Afridun，Lord of Constantinople，that I might have honoured thee still more and enlarged thee in dignity and raised thy rank？'O King，'answered Sophia，'and what could I desire greater or higher than this my standing with thee，overwhelmed as I am with thy favours and thy benefits？And，furthermore，Allah hath blessed me with two children by thee，a son and a daughter.'Her reply pleased the King and after leaving her，he set apart for her and her children a wondrous fine palace.Moreover，he appointed for them eunuchs and attendants and doctors of law and doctors of philosophy and astrologers and physicians and surgeons to do them service； and in every way he redoubled his favour and entreated them with the best of treatment.And presently he returned to the palace of his dominion and to his Court where he distributed justice among the lieges.So far concerning him and Sophia and her children；but in the matter of Abrizah the King was greatly occupied with love of her and burnt with desire of her night and day； and every night，he would go in to her and converse with her and pay his court to her，but she gave him no answer，only saying，'O King of the age！I have no desire for men at this present.'When he saw her withdraw from him，his passion waxed hotter and his longing and pining increased until，when weary of this，he summoned his Wazir Dandan and，opening his very heart to him，told him of his love for Princess Abrizah，daughter of Hardub，and informed him how she refused to yield to his wishes and how desire for her was doing him to die，for that he could get no grace of her.The Wazir，hearing these words，said to the King，'As soon as it is dark night，take thou a piece of Bhang the measure of a miskal，about an ounce，and go in to her and drink somewhat of wine with her.When the hour of ending the carousel shall draw near，fill her a last cup and dropping therein the Bhang，give it to her to drink，and she will not reach her sleeping chamber ere the drug take effect on her.Then do thou go in to her and take thy will of her；and such is my advice.'[218]
