words, the Prince joyed with great joy, and made the horse fly and
fare softly with them, so as not to disquiet her. Nor did they stay

their flight till they came in sight of a green meadow, wherein was
a spring of running water. Here they alighted and ate and drank, after

which the Prince took horse again and set her behind him, binding
her in his fear for her safety, after which they fared on till they

came in sight of his father's capital.
At this, the Prince was filled with joy and bethought himself to

show his beloved the seat of his dominion and his father's power and
dignity and give her to know that it was greater than that of her

sire. So he set her down in one of his father's gardens without the
city where his parent was wont to take his pleasure, and carrying

her into a domed summerhouse prepared there for the King, left the
ebony horse at the door and charged the damsel keep watch over it,

saying, "Sit here till my messenger come to thee, for I go now to my
father to make ready a palace for thee and show thee my royal estate."

She was delighted when she heard these words and said to him, "Do as
thou wilt," for she thereby understood that she should not enter the

city but with due honor and worship, as became her rank.
Then the Prince left her and betook himself to the palace of the

King his father, who rejoiced in his return and met him and welcomed
him, and the Prince said to him: "Know that I have brought with me the

King's daughter of whom I told thee, and have left her without the
city in such a garden and come to tell thee, that thou mayest make

ready the procession of estate and go forth to meet her and show her
the royal dignity and troops and guards." Answered the King, "With joy

and gladness," and straightway bade decorate the town with the
goodliest adornment. Then he took horse and rode out in all

magnificence and majesty, he and his host, high officers, and
household, with drums and kettledrums, fifes and clarions and all

manner instruments, whilst the Prince drew forth of his treasuries
jewelry and apparel and what else of the things which kings hoard

and made a rare display of wealth-and splendor. Moreover he got
ready for the Princess a canopied litter of brocades, green, red,

and yellow, wherein he set Indian and Greek and Abyssinian slave
girls. Then he left the litter and those who were therein and preceded

them to the pavilion where he had set her down, and searched but found
naught, neither Princess nor horse.

When he saw this, he beat his face and rent his raiment and began to
wander round about the garden as he had lost his wits, after which

he came to his senses and said to himself: "How could she have come at
the secret of this horse, seeing I told her nothing of it? Maybe the

Persian sage who made the horse hath chanced upon her and stolen her
away, in revenge for my father's treatment of him." Then he sought the

guardians of the garden and asked them if they had seen any pass the
precincts, and said: "Hath anyone come in here? Tell me the truth

and the whole truth, or I will at once strike off your heads." They
were terrified by his threats, but they answered with one voice, "We

have seen no man enter save the Persian sage, who came to gather
healing herbs." So the Prince was certified that it was indeed he that

had taken away the maiden, and abode confounded and perplexed
concerning his case. And he was abashed before the folk and, turning

to his sire, told him what had happened and said to him: "Take the
troops and march them back to the city. As for me, I will never return

till I have cleared up this affair."
When the King heard this, he wept and beat his breast and said to

him: "O my son, calm thy choler and master thy chagrin and come home
with us and look what Idng's daughter thou wouldst fain have, that I

may marry thee to her." But the Prince paid no heed to his words and
farewelling him, departed, whilst the King returned to the city, and

their joy was changed into sore annoy. Now, as Destiny issued her
decree, when the Prince left the Princess in the garden house and

betook himself to his father's palace for the ordering of his
affair, the Persian entered the garden to pluck certain simples and,

scenting the sweet savor of musk and perfumes that exhaled from the
Princess and impregnated the whole place, followed it till he came

to the pavilion and saw standing at the door the horse which he had
made with his own hands. His heart was filled with joy and gladness,

for he had bemourned its loss much since it had gone out of his
hand. So he went up to it and, examining its every part, found it

whole and sound, whereupon he was about to mount and ride away when he
bethought himself and said, "Needs must I first look what the Prince

hath brought and left here with the horse." So he entered the pavilion
and seeing the Princess sitting there, as she were the sun shining

sheen in the sky serene, knew her at the first glance to be some
highborn lady, and doubted not but the Prince had brought her

thither on the horse and left her in the pavilionwhilst he went to
the city to make ready for her entry in state procession with all

splendor.
Then he went up to her and kissed the earth between her hands,

whereupon she raised her eyes to him and, finding him exceedingly foul
of face and favor, asked, "Who art thou?", and he answered, "O my

lady, I am a messenger sent by the Prince, who hath bidden me bring
thee to another pleasance nearer the city, for that my lady the

Queen cannot walk so far and is unwilling, of her joy in thee, that
another should forestall her with thee." Quoth she, "Where is the

Prince?" and quoth the Persian, "He is in the city, with his sire, and
forthwith he shall come for thee in great state." Said she: "O thou!

Say me, could he find none handsomer to send to me?" Whereat loud
laughed the sage and said: "Yea verily, he hath not a Mameluke as ugly

as I am, but, O my lady, let not the ill favor of my face and the
foulness of my form deceive thee. Hadst thou profited of me as hath

the Prince, verily thou wouldst praise my affair. Indeed, he chose
me as his messenger to thee because of my uncomeliness and

loathsomeness in his jealous love of thee. Else hath he Mamelukes
and Negro slaves, pages, eunuchs, and attendants out of number, each

goodlier than other."
Whenas she heard this, it commended itself to her reason and she

believed him, so she rose forthright and, putting her hand in his,
said, "O my father, what hast thou brought me to ride?" He replied, "O

my lady thou shalt ride the horse thou camest on," and she, "I
cannot ride it by myself." Whereupon he smiled and knew that he was

her master and said, "I will ride with thee myself." So he mounted
and, taking her up behind him, bound her to himself with firm bonds,

while she knew not what he would with her. Then he turned the ascent
pin, whereupon the belly of the horse became full of wind and it

swayed to and fro like a wave of the sea, and rose with them high in
air, nor slackened in its flight till it was out of sight of the city.

Now when Shams al-Nahar saw this, she asked him: "Ho, thou! What is
become of that thou toldest me of my Prince, making me believe that he

sent thee to me?" Answered the Persian, "Allah damn the Prince! He
is a mean and skinflint knave." She cried: "Woe to thee! How darest

thou disobey thy lord's commandment?" Whereto the Persian replied: "He
is no lord of mine. Knowest thou who I am?" Rejoined the Princess,

"I know nothing of thee save what thou toldest me," and retorted he:
"What I told thee was a trick of mine against thee and the King's son.

I have long lamented the loss of this horse which is under us, for I
constructed it and made myself master of it. But now I have gotten

firm hold of it and of thee too, and I will burn his heart even as
he hath burnt mine, nor shall he ever have the horse again- no,

never! So be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear, for I
can be of more use to thee than he. And I am generous as I am wealthy.

My servants and slaves shall obey thee as their mistress. I will
robe thee in finest raiment and thine every wish shall be at thy

will."
When she heard this, she buffeted her face and cried out, saying:

"Ah, wellaway! I have not won my beloved and I have lost my father and
mother!" And she wept bitter tears over what had befallen her,