capture and destroy even such mighty birds of prey as the vulture
and the eagle. See, too, what huge and surprising nests he is able to
fashion, such as that hard by this very grove."

"My child," said the mother bird, "you confuse the ruler of these
animals with those over whom he rules. The one has indeed a fine nest
and an easy life, but the others are lodged very differently, and
labour from morning till night."

"I confess," said the younger bird, "that it was rather of the prince
than of his subjects that I was thinking when I wished to be a man.
Only consider how enviable a position he enjoys, with so many beings
under his command, and with so many fine gardens to live and take his
pleasure in."

"And with so charming and faithful a wife to prepare entertainments for
him," said the older bird, sarcastically. "I wonder how the prince you
foolishly envy would have looked if he had seen her only yesterday
evening as we did with another man at her feet?"

"Allah! is it true?" thundered out Haroun Alraschid, in a terrible rage.

The sudden movement and exclamation frightened the little birds, who
flew swiftly away. A matter of the less consequence, as the Caliph had
by speaking destroyed the spell, and could have understood no more of
the dialogue even had it continued. But he was in fact far too angry
and excited at the moment to notice this or anything else.

Clapping his hands to summon his slaves and attendants, he commanded
the palace of Zobeideh to be instantly surrounded, and all who might be
found therein at once to be made prisoners. This hasty measure
produced, as might have been expected, no results. No one was arrested
but those belonging to Zobeideh's household, and all, as a matter of
course, professed entire ignorance of the entrance at any time whatever
of any man within the sacred precincts of Zobeideh's palace.

Haroun, in the first transports of his rage, contemplated ordering
every man in Bagdad between fifteen and fifty years of age to be
executed. But the Grand Vizier having hinted that some difficulty
might be experienced in executing so wholesale an order, and, moreover,
that the actual culprit might very probably even in that case manage to
effect his escape, the Caliph decided to cause Zobeideh to be brought
before him that he might interrogate her himself.

When that unhappy princess entered, and, throwing herself at his feet,
asked him in what way she had offended or aggrie