danger and in safety,
then for the rest of his life he will reign in peace and prosperity.'

"On hearing this [prognostication], the king ordered this garden to
be laid out, and caused to be built in it many apartments of various
kinds. He gave an order for me to be brought up in a vault, lined
[on the inside] with felt, so that not a single ray of light from the
sun or moon might penetrate [into my apartment]. I had a wet nurse and
all other kinds of female servants and attendants attached to me, and
was brought up in this grand palace with this [imagined] security. A
learned tutor, who was skilled in public affairs, was appointed to
[superintend] my education; so that I might acquire every science
and art, and the practice of the seven varieties of penmanship; and
my father always looked after me; the occurrences of every day and
every moment were told to the king. I considered that same place as
the whole world, and amused myself with toys and flowers; and I had
procured for me every delicacy the world [could produce] for my food;
whatever I desired I had. By the age of ten years, I had acquired
every species of learning, and every useful accomplishment.

"One day, beneath that dome, an astonishing flower appeared from
the sky-light, which increased in size as I gazed upon it; I wished
to seize it with my hands, but as I stretched them towards it, it
ascended [and eluded my grasp]. I, having become astonished, was
looking steadfastly at it, when the sound of a loud laugh reached my
ear; I raised my head to look [towards the dome from which the noise
proceeded]. Then I saw that a face, resplendent as the full moon,
having rent the felt, continued issuing forth. On beholding it, my
reason and senses vanished. On coming to myself, I looked up, and
saw a throne of jewels raised on the shoulders of fairies; a person
was seated on it, with a crown of precious stones on her head, and
clothed in a superb dress; she held in her hand a cup made of ruby,
and seated, was drinking wine. The throne descended by slow degrees
from its height, and rested on [the floor of] the dome. Then the
fairy called me, and placed me beside her [on the throne]; she began
to make use of expressions of endearment, and having pressed her
lips to mine, she made me drink a cup of rosy wine, and said, 'The
human race is faithless, but my heart loves thee.' The expressions
she uttered were so endearing and so fascinating, that in a moment
my heart wa