ed them to rise. The princes rose up, and stood
before him with an easy and graceful air. The emperor, after he had
admired their good air and mien, asked them who they were, and where
they lived.

"Sire," said Prince Bahman, "we are the sons of the late intendant of
your majesty's gardens, and live in a house which he built a little
before he died, till it should please you to give us some employment."

"By what I perceive," replied the emperor, "you love hunting."

"Sire," replied Prince Bahman, "it is our common exercise, and what
none of your majesty's subjects who intend to bear arms in your armies
ought, according to the ancient custom of the kingdom, to neglect."

The emperor, charmed with so prudent an answer, said, "It is so, and I
should be glad to see your expertness in the chase; choose your own
game."

The princes mounted their horses again, and followed the emperor; but
had not gone far before they saw many wild beasts together. Prince
Bahman chose a lion, and Prince Perviz a bear; and pursued them with
so much intrepidity, that the emperor was surprised. They came up with
their game nearly at the same time, and darted their javelins with so
much skill and address, that they pierced, the one the lion and the
other the bear, so effectually that the emperor saw them fall one
after the other. Immediately afterward Prince Bahman pursued another
bear, and Prince Perviz another lion, and killed them in a short time,
and would have beaten out for fresh game, but the emperor would not
let them, and sent to them to come to him.

When they approached, he said, "If I would have given you leave, you
would soon have destroyed all my game; but it is not that which I
would preserve, but your persons; for I am so well assured your
bravery may one time or other be serviceable to me, that from this
moment your lives will be always dear to me."

The emperor, in short, conceived so great a fondness for the two
princes that he invited them immediately to make him a visit; to which
Prince Bahman replied, "Your majesty does us an honor we do not
deserve; and we beg you will excuse us."

The emperor, who could not comprehend what reason the princes could
have to refuse this token of his favor, pressed them to tell him why
they excused themselves.

"Sire," said Prince Bahman, "we have a sister younger than ourselves,
with whom we live in such perfect union that we undertake nothing
before we consult her, nor she anythin