The tale of Bayad and Riyad

Three manuscript copies containing the Tale of Bayad and Riyad are known nowadays:Vatican Library, Vat.ar. 368; Dublin, Chester Beatty Library, Ar. 4120 and Paris, Bulac, Ar. 482. These last two manuscripts give a different version of the tale.The story, according to these two codices, tells of Bayad - the son of a merchant of Damascus, who fals in love, on the bank of the Tharthar river, with Riyad - the beautiful slave of the chamberlain - and of an lederly woman who intrigues and intercedes on behalf of the chamberlain's daughter to bring the two lovers together.The contribution give a description of the manuscription of the tale and the critical edition of the tale based on the three manuscripts known.