ed and tied up his horse near the negro's head.
Then he let fall the Bismillah from his lips, entered the garden and
walked through it till he came to the private part, delighting in the
great trees, the lovely verdure, and the flowery borders. In the inner
garden there were very many deer. These signed to him with eye and
foot to go back, for that this was enchanted ground; but he did not
understand them, and thought their pretty gestures were a welcome.
After a while he reached a palace which had a porch more splendid than
Caesar's, and was built of gold and silver bricks. In its midst was a
high seat, overlaid with fine carpets, and into it opened eight doors,
each having opposite to it a marble basin.

Banishing care, Prince Almas walked on through the garden, when
suddenly a window opened and a girl, who was lovely enough to make the
moon writhe with jealousy, put out her head. She lost her heart to the
good looks of the prince, and sent her nurse to fetch him so that she
might learn where he came from and how he had got into her private
garden where even lions and wolves did not venture. The nurse went,
and was struck with amazement at the sun-like radiance of his face;
she salaamed and said: 'O youth! welcome! the lady of the garden calls
you; come!' He went with her and into a palace which was like a house
in Paradise, and saw seated on the royal carpets of the throne a girl
whose brilliance shamed the shining sun. He salaamed; she rose, took
him by the hand and placed him near her. 'O young man! who are you?
where do you come from? How did you get into this garden?' He told her
his story from beginning to end, and Lady Latifa[9] replied: 'This is
folly! It will make you a vagabond of the earth, and lead you to
destruction. Come, cease such talk! No one can go to the Caucasus.
Stay with me and be thankful, for here is a throne which you can share
with me, and in my society you can enjoy my wealth. I will do whatever
you wish; I will bring here King Quimus and his daughter, and you can
deal with them as you will.'

'O Lady Latifa,' he said, 'I have made a compact with heaven not to
sit down off my feet till I have been to Waq of Qaf and have cleared
up this matter, and have taken Mihr-afruz from her father, as brave
men take, and have put her in prison. When I have done all this I will
come back to you in state and with a great following, and I will marry
you according to the law.' Lady Latifa argued and urged h