The Ass, the Ox, and the Labourer. THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE. The Story of the First Old Man and the Hind. The Story of the Second old Man and the Two Black Dogs. THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN. The Story of the Grecian King and the Physician Douban. The Story of the Husband and the Parrot. The Story of the Vizier that was Punished. The History of the Young King of the Black Isles. STORY OF THE THREE CALENDERS, SONS OF SULTANS; AND OF THE FIVE LADIES OF BAGDAD. The History of the First Calender. The Story of the Second Calender. The Story of the Envious Man, and of him that he Envied. The History of the Third Calender. The Story of Zobeide. The Story of Amene. THE STORY OF SINBAD THE VOYAGER. The First Voyage. The Second Voyage. The Third Voyage. The Fourth Voyage. The Fifth Voyage. The Sixth Voyage. The Seventh and Last Voyage. THE THREE APPLES. The Story of the Lady who was Murdered, and of the Young Man her Husband. The Story of Noor ad Deen Ali and Buddir ad Deen Houssun. THE HISTORY OF GANEM, SON OF ABOU AYOUB, AND KNOWN BY THE SURNAME OF LOVE'S SLAVE.
The chronicles of the Sassanians, ancient kings of Persia, who extended their empire into the Indies, over all the adjacent islands, and a great way beyond the Ganges, as far as China, acquaint us, that there was formerly a king of that potent family, who was regarded as the most excellent prince of his time. He was as much beloved by his subjects for his wisdom and prudence, as he was dreaded by his neighbours, on account of his velour, and well-disciplined troops. He had two sons; the elder Shier-ear, the worthy heir of his father, and endowed with all his virtues; the younger Shaw-zummaun, a prince of equal merit.
After a long and glorious reign, this king died; and Shier-ear mounted his throne. Shaw-zummaun, being excluded from all share in the government by the laws of the empire, and obliged to live a private life, was so far from envying the happiness of his brother, that he made it his whole business to please him, and in this succeeded without much difficulty. Shier-ear, who had naturally a great affection the prince his brother, gave him the kingdom of Great Tartary. Shaw-zummaun went immediately and took possession of it, and fixed the seat of his government at Samarcand, the metropolis of the country.