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From this hour thou art my son and my only son, for that in all

my life I have never been blessed with issue." Thereupon they

embraced and joyed with exceeding great joy; and, reaching the

palace, the Prince who had been spell bound informed his lords

and his grandees that he was about to visit the Holy Places as a

pilgrim, and bade them get ready all things necessary for the

occasion. The preparations lasted ten days, after which he set

out with the Sultan, whose heart burned in yearning for his city

whence he had been absent a whole twelvemonth. They journeyed

with an escort of Mamelukes[FN#137] carrying all manners of

precious gifts and rarities, nor stinted they wayfaring day and

night for a full year until they approached the Sultan's capital,

and sent on messengers to announce their coming.