ou have given, the person whom you are in search of is
Shaseliman, the young King of Persia, and grandson to Selimansha. His
father was killed by his barbarous brother Balavan, who usurped his
throne; the son was wounded in his cradle, yet Allah preserved the
life of that unfortunate infant."

"O Heaven!" exclaimed the slave, "am I so happy as to hear Shaseliman
mentioned? How, young man, have you guessed the cause which made me
travel from Egypt into Persia? Who could inform you of it? Do you
know, then, what has become of this unfortunate Prince? Shall I reap
at length the fruit of my anxiety and labours? Where could I find
him?"

When Shaseliman was convinced that he who thus spoke to him was a
messenger from his mother, he thought he might make himself known.

"In vain would you run over the whole world," said he to him, "in
order to find Shaseliman, since it is he who now speaks to you."

At these words, the slave fell at the feet of his Sovereign, and
covered his hands with tears and kisses.

"Ah," exclaimed he, "how overjoyed will Chamsada be! What happy news
shall I bring to her! Remain here, my Prince: I am going to find
everything that is necessary for your going with me."

He ran quickly to the village, and brought from it a saddled horse and
more suitable clothes for Shaseliman, and they both took the road to
Grand Cairo.

An unforeseen event interrupted their journey. As they were crossing a
desert, they were surrounded by robbers, seized, plundered, and let
down into a well. Shut up in this frightful place, the slave abandoned
himself to grief.

"How! are you disconsolate?" said the young Prince. "Is it the
prospect of death which terrifies you?"

"Death hath nothing dreadful to me," replied he; "but can I remain
insensible to the hardships of your lot? Can I think calmly upon the
loss which the sorrowful Chamsada will suffer?"

"Take courage," said Shaseliman. "I must fulfill the decrees of the
Almighty. All that has happened to me was written in the Book of Life;
and, if I must end my days in this dreadful abode, no human power can
rescue me from it, and it becomes me to be submissive and resigned."

In these sentiments and in this dreadful situation did this virtuous
Prince and his slave pass two days and two nights.

In the meantime, the eye of Providence continually watched over
Shaseliman. It brought the King of Egypt, in pursuit of a roebuck, to
the place where this Prince was shut up