t the door: he stood still before the threshold, and watched
the youth with astonishment. The young man gazed earnestly at him. He
suddenly recognized the features of the old man, and threw himself on
his knees before him, seized his hand, and bowing his head on it,
bedewed it with his tears, and covered it with kisses.

"My father!" cried he: "is it so indeed? Have you so much altered in
the course of so few years?--that is my fault. Father, forgive your
easily offending son, who forgot you in the height of prosperity."

Naima stretched his other hand to him, blessed him, and said, "Rise
up, my son, rise: he who feels repentance is forgiven."

He rose and threw himself into his father's arms.

When he looked up, he saw a man approach, leading a maiden whose
features he recognized. It was Saad and his daughter Zoraine,
Haschem's playfellow. After welcoming him, they sat down, and Haschem
related to them all that had happened to him since that evening. He
related, truly and candidly, how he had forgotten his father, and
nearly fallen into greater crimes, because he had been blinded by
fortune, by empty greatness, and honour. Whilst they were sitting,
they observed three birds, who came from a distance, and seemed to
pursue one another. They soon perceived a black bird, which flew
anxiously, and seemed followed by a bird of prey. He would soon have
reached his prey, had he not been pursued by a larger bird; and to
avoid this, he was often compelled to go from side to side: at last
they came to close conflict. The pursued black bird flew into
Haschem's lap; the bird of prey, struck by his pursuer, fell to the
ground at their feet, and was, by his strong hooked bill and sharp
claws, soon killed and torn to pieces. Scarcely had the last
occurrence taken place, when the conqueror changed into a
venerable-looking sage. He turned to Haschem, who was quite
astonished, and said,

"Dip quickly your forefinger in the blood of this slain one, and
anoint with it the beak of the black bird."

Haschem obeyed immediately; and scarcely had he touched the black
bird's beak with the blood, than it changed, and a handsome youth in
kingly dress stood before them.

"Guess who this is," said the genius.

"Mundian Oppu?" asked Haschem.

And the genius answered, "It is he!" And as he stood looking at the
young man with astonishment, he said, "You do not perceive how and why
all this has happened. I could explain to you all these myste