aram
and Gul, daughter of Taram-taq, and the wicked Mihr-afruz, and all
the belongings of the four, packed on horses and camels, and in carts
without number.

As he approached the borders of his father's country word of his coming
went before him, and all the city came forth to give him welcome. King
Saman-lal-posh--Jessamine, wearer of rubies--had so bewept the loss of
his sons that he was now blind. When the prince had kissed his feet
and received his blessing, he took from a casket a little collyrium of
Solomon, which the Simurgh had given him, and which reveals the hidden
things of earth, and rubbed it on his father's eyes. Light came, and the
king saw his son.

Mihr-afruz was brought before the king, and the prince said: 'This is
the murderer of your sons; do with her as you will.' The king fancied
that the prince might care for the girl's beauty, and replied: 'You have
humbled her; do with her as you will.'

Upon this the prince sent for four swift and strong horses, and had the
negro bound to each one of them; then each was driven to one of the four
quarters, and he tore in pieces like muslin.

This frightened Mihr-afruz horribly, for she thought the same thing
might be done to herself. She cried out to the prince: 'O Prince Almas!
what is hardest to get is most valued. Up till now I have been subject
to no man, and no man had had my love. The many kings and kings sons who
have died at my hands have died because it was their fate to die
like this. In this matter I have not sinned. That was their fate from
eternity; and from the beginning it was predestined that my fate should
be bound up with yours.'

The prince gave ear to the argument from pre-ordainment, and as she was
a very lovely maiden he took her too in lawful marriage. She and Jamila,
set up house together, and Dil-aram and Gul set up theirs; and the
prince passed the rest of his life with the four in perfect happiness,
and in pleasant and sociable entertainment.

Now has been told what the rose did to the cypress.

Finished, finished, finished!

Footnotes:

[Footnote 1: Translated from two Persian MSS. in the possession of
the British Museum and the India Office, and adapted, with some
reservations, by Annette S. Beveridge.]

[Footnote 2: Jessamine, ruby-decked.]

[Footnote 3: Life-giving diamond.]

[Footnote 4: World-gripper.]

[Footnote 5: Love-enkindler.]

[Footnote 6: Rose-cheek.]

[Footnote 7: Heartsease.]

[Footnote 8: