Friends," said he, "be so kind as to tell me the meaning of all this
equipage, and the name of the person to whom it belongs."

[Footnote 11: Knights. The very ancient knighthood of India existed at
this time. Those who devoted themselves to this manner of life came,
armed from head to foot, to offer their services to the different
Princes. See the "Memoirs of Hyder Ali Khan."]

Notwithstanding the civil and polite manner in which the monarch spoke
this, yet, as the hunting dress did not express the dignity of the
wearer, they answered, "What matters it to you?"

Bohetzad was not discouraged with so dry an answer, but still insisted
with politeness, and even earnestness, for a more satisfactory reply.
He who appeared to be the leader of the troop then presented to him
the point of his spear, and said,

"Go on your way, audacious fellow! otherwise, if your curiosity
becomes more impertinent, be assured it will cost you your life."

This insolent behaviour excited the indignation of the King. He went
up to the knight who thus threatened him, with that air of confidence
and that commanding tone, the habit of which he had acquired in the
exercise of absolute power.

"Slave of my throne!" said he to him, "dost thou not know Bohetzad?
But, had I been only a common man, after speaking to you in so modest
and friendly a manner, ought you to have threatened me with death?"

At the very name of Bohetzad, the knights alighted and prostrated
themselves on the earth.

"Sire," said one of the oldest of them, "pardon an answer which we
could not think addressed to the greatest monarch of the earth; for it
was very possible not to recognize your Majesty in a hunting dress,
and without attendants."

"Rise," said the King, "and gratify my curiosity. Who is the person in
that litter, and whither are you conducting it?"

"Sire," answered the knight, "it is the daughter of Asphand, your
Grand Vizier: we are conducting her to the Prince of Babylon, to whom
she is going to be married."

During this, the daughter of the Vizier, uneasy on account of the
delay, presented her head at the curtain of the litter, in order to
get information, and was perceived by Bohetzad. Whatever pains she had
taken to prevent herself from being seen, her extraordinary beauty
struck the Sovereign. His heart received a fatal wound: his passion,
arrived at its height, aspired after gratification from the very
moment of its existence; and Bohetzad, determ