erings. The sultan
read these likewise, and said, "A man that was capable of composing
such poetry would rank among the greatest of men."

The sultan caused to be brought to him a chessboard,[20] and asked me
by a sign if I understood that game, and would play with him. I kissed
the ground; and laying my hand upon my head, signified that I was
ready to receive that honor. He won the first game; but I won the
second and third; and perceiving he was somewhat displeased at my
success, I made a stanza to pacify him, in which I told him that two
potent armies had been fighting furiously all day, but that they
concluded a peace toward the evening, and passed the remaining part of
the night very amicably together upon the field of battle.

[Footnote 20: Chess is said to have had its origin in the East, and to
have been introduced into Europe after the Crusades.]

So many circumstances appearing to the sultan beyond what had ever
either been seen or known of apes, he determined not to be the only
witness of these prodigies himself, but having a daughter, called the
Lady of Beauty, sent for her, that she should share his pleasure.

The princess, who had her face unveiled, no sooner came into the room
than she put on her veil, and said to the sultan, "Sir, I am surprised
that you have sent for me to appear before a man. That seeming ape is
a young prince, son of a powerful sultan, and has been metamorphosed
into an ape by enchantment. When I was just out of the nursery, an old
lady who waited on me was a most expert magician, and taught me
seventy rules of magic. By this science I know all enchanted persons
at first sight: I know who they are, and by whom they have been
enchanted; therefore do not be surprised if I should forthwith restore
this prince, in spite of the enchantments, to his own form."

"Do so, then," interrupted the sultan, "for you cannot give me
greater pleasure, as I wish to have him for my grand vizier, and
bestow you upon him for a wife."

"I am ready, sire," answered the princess, "to obey you in all things
you please to command."

The princess, the Lady of Beauty, went into her apartment, and brought
thence a knife, which had some Hebrew words engraved on the blade: she
made the sultan, the little slave, and myself, descend into a private
court of the palace, and there left us under a gallery that went round
it. She placed herself in the middle of the court, where she made a
great circle, and within