te, and the things that had
happened to her, and her present condition.

So she said to them: "Know ye, that when I quitted you, and came forth
from the sea, I sat upon the shore of an island, and a man took me, and
sold me to a merchant, and the merchant brought me to this city, and
sold me to its king for ten thousand pieces of gold. Then he treated me
with attention, and forsook all his favourites for my sake, and was
diverted by his regard for me from everything that he possessed and what
was in his city." And when her brother heard her words, he said:
"Praise be to God who hath reunited us! But it is my desire, O my
sister, that thou wouldst arise and go with us to our country and our
family." So when the king heard the words of her brother, his reason
fled in consequence of his fear lest the damsel should accept the
proposal of her kindred, and he could not prevent her, though he was
inflamed with love of her; wherefore he became perplexed in violent fear
of her separation. But as to the damsel Gulnare, on hearing the words of
her brother she said: "By Allah, O my brother, the man who purchased me
is the king of this city, and he is a great king, and a man of wisdom,
generous, of the utmost liberality. He hath treated me with honour, and
he is a person of kindness, and of great wealth, but hath no male child
nor a female. He hath shewn me favour too, and acted well to me in every
respect; and from the day when I came to him to the present time, I have
not heard from him a word to grieve my heart; but he hath not ceased to
treat me with courtesy, and I am living with him in the most perfect of
enjoyments. Moreover, if I quitted him, he would perish: for he can
never endure my separation even for a single hour. I also, if I quitted
him, should die of my love for him in consequence of his kindness to me
during the period of my residence with him; for if my father were
living, my condition with him would not be like my condition with this
great, glorious king. God (whose name be exalted!) afflicted me not, but
compensated me well; and as the king hath not a male child nor a female,
I beg God to bless me with a son that may inherit of this great king
these palaces and possessions." And when her brother, and the daughters
of her uncle, heard her words, their eyes became cheerful thereat, and
they said to her: "O Gulnare, thou art acquainted with our affection for
thee, and thou art assured that thou art the dearest of al