mounted their horses and
went for the first time since their return, not to their own demesne,
but two or three leagues from their house. As they pursued their sport,
the emperor of Persia came in pursuit of game upon the same ground. When
they perceived, by the number of horsemen in different places, that he
would soon be up, they resolved to discontinue their chase, and retire
to avoid encountering him; but in the very road they took they chanced
to meet him in so narrow a way that they could not retreat without being
seen. In their surprise they had only time to alight and prostrate
themselves before the emperor, without lifting up their heads to look at
him. The emperor, who saw they were as well mounted and dressed as if
they had belonged to his court, had a curiosity to see their faces. He
stopped and commanded them to rise. The princes rose up and stood before
him with an easy and graceful air, accompanied with modest countenances.
The emperor took some time to view them before he spoke, and after he
had admired their good air and mien, asked them who they were and where
they lived.

"Sir," said Prince Bahman, "we are the sons of the late intendant of
your majesty's gardens, and live in a house which he built a little
before he died, till we should be fit to serve your majesty and ask of
you some employ when opportunity offered."

"By what I perceive," replied the emperor, "you love hunting." "Sir,"
replied Prince Bahman, "it is our common exercise, and what none of your
majesty's subjects who intend to bear arms in your armies, ought,
according to the ancient custom of the kingdom, to neglect." The
emperor, charmed with so prudent an answer, said: "Since it is so, I
should be glad to see your expertness in the chase; choose your own
game."

The princes mounted their horses again and followed the emperor, but had
not gone far before they saw many wild beasts together. Prince Bahman
chose a lion and Prince Perviz a bear, and pursued them with so much
intrepidity that the emperor was surprised. They came up with their game
nearly at the same time, and darted their javelins with so much skill
and address that they pierced the one the lion and the other the bear so
effectually that the emperor saw them fall one after the other.
Immediately afterward Prince Bahman pursued another bear, and Prince
Perviz another lion, and killed them in a short time, and would have
beaten out for fresh game, but the emperor would n