d
with the plentiful fortune he had left them, they lived together in
perfect union, free from the ambition of distinguishing themselves at
court, or aspiring to places of honor and dignity, which they might
easily have obtained.

One day when the two princes were hunting, and the princess had
remained at home, an old woman, a devotee, came to the gate, and
desired leave to go in to say her prayers, it being then the hour. The
servants asked the princess's permission, who ordered them to show her
into the oratory, which the intendant of the emperor's gardens had
taken care to fit up in his house, for want of a mosque in the
neighborhood. After the good woman had finished her prayers, she was
brought before the princess in the great hall, which in beauty and
richness exceeded all the other apartments.

As soon as the princess saw the devout woman, she asked her many
questions upon the exercise of devotion which she practiced, and how
she lived; all which were answered with great modesty. Talking of
several things, at last she asked the woman what she thought of the
house, and how she liked it.

"Madam," answered the devout woman, "if you will give me leave to
speak my mind freely, I will take the liberty to tell you that this
house would be incomparable if it had three things which are wanting
to complete it. The first of these three things is the speaking-bird,
so singular a creature that it draws around it all the singing-birds
in the neighborhood, which come to accompany his song. The second is
the singing-tree, the leaves of which are so many mouths, which form
an harmonious concert of different voices, and never cease. The third
is the yellow-water of a gold color, a single drop of which being
poured into a vessel properly prepared, it increases so as to fill it
immediately, and rises up in the middle like a fountain, which
continually plays, and yet the basin never overflows."

"Ah! my good mother," cried the princess, "how much am I obliged to
you for the knowledge of these curiosities! They are surprising, and I
never before heard there were such wonderful rarities in the world;
but as I am persuaded that you know, I expect that you will do me the
favor to inform me where they are to be found."

"Madam," replied the good woman, "I am glad to tell you that these
curiosities are all to be met with in the same spot on the confines
of this kingdom, toward India. The road lies before your house, and
whoever you