own down with others. But Providence, who watched over
his life, made him fall upon the body of one of his companions in
misfortune. This body partly bearing him up, and the air supporting
his clothes, preserved him from a mortal fall. He was stunned by the
rapidity of the motion, but he neither met with a fracture nor a
contusion, and except a long swoon, he experienced no other accident.

He was at length recalled to life amidst the unfortunate people who
had lost it. His first step was to raise his soul to God, and to
testify his gratitude to Him, through the intercession of His great
Prophet. He discovered that he was in the middle of an immense forest,
and that the corpses which surrounded him must necessarily attract the
wild beasts; he therefore removed from this dangerous spot. He walked
all night, and as soon as he thought himself beyond the reach of men
and animals, he ascended a tree, endeavouring to conceal himself in
its foliage from the notice of travellers, and supporting himself by
wild fruits. This way of life he constantly pursued till he reached
the dominions of Balavan his uncle.

He was near entering the first city of Persia when he perceived five
or six men conversing together. Perceiving them to be Mussulmans, he
accosted them, and gave them an account of the treatment he had
received from the Infidels, and of the miraculous way in which he had
been saved. The simplicity of his relation leaving no room to suspect
its truth, they were affected with compassion in his favour, and
conducted him to their house, where he enjoyed all the rites of
hospitality. After some days' rest he took leave of his benefactors,
in order to continue his journey towards the capital where Balavan
reigned. His hosts, after furnishing him with whatever he had need of,
showed him the way, without suspecting that the young man whom they
had entertained in so obliging a manner was the nephew of their
Sovereign.

The young Prince walked night and day. Fatigued, tired, his legs and
feet torn by the brambles and flints, he at length arrived under the
walls of Ispahan, and sat down near a basin which served as a
reservoir to a neighbouring fountain. Scarcely had he time to recover
his breath, when he saw several gentlemen on horseback approaching.
They were officers of the King who were returning from the chase, and
were going to give their horses drink. Looking about them, they
perceived the young Shaseliman; and notwithstand