ty-nine days had elapsed, and I had opened the doors of all
the closets excepting that which they had forbidden me to open. My heart
was then disturbed by curiosity respecting this hundredth closet, and
the Devil, in order to plunge me into misery, induced me to open it. I
had not patience to abstain, though there remained of the appointed
period only one day: so I approached the closet, and opened the door;
and when I had entered, I perceived a fragrant odour, such as I had
never before smelt, which intoxicated me so that I fell down insensible,
and remained some time in this state: but at length recovering, I
fortified my heart, and proceeded. I found the floor overspread with
saffron, and the place illuminated by golden lamps and by candles, which
diffused the odours of musk and ambergris. I saw also a black horse, of
the hue of the darkest night, before which was a manger of white crystal
filled with cleansed sesame, and another, similar to it, containing
rose-water infused with musk: he was saddled and bridled, and his saddle
was of red gold. Wondering at the sight of him, I said within myself:
"This must be an animal of extraordinary qualities;" and, seduced by the
Devil, I led him out, and mounted him; but he moved not from his place.
I kicked him with my heel; but still he moved not: so I took a switch
and struck him with it; and as soon as he felt the blow he uttered a
sound like thunder, and, expanding a pair of wings, soared with me to an
immense height through the air, and then alighted upon the roof of
another palace, where he threw me from his back, and, by a violent blow
with his tail upon my face, struck out my eye, and left me.

Thus it was I became blind of one eye. I then recollected the
predictions of the ten young men. The horse again took wing, and soon
disappeared. I got up much vexed at the misfortune I had brought upon
myself. I walked upon the terrace, covering my eye with one of my hands,
for it pained me exceedingly, and then descended, and entered into a
hall. I soon discovered by the ten benches in a circle, and the eleventh
in the middle, smaller than the rest, that I was in the castle whence I
had been carried by the roc.

The ten young men were not in the hall when I entered; but came in soon
after, attended by the sheikh. They seemed not at all surprised to see
me, nor at the loss of my eye; but said: "We are sorry that we cannot
congratulate you on your return, as we could wish; but we