l persons to
us, and art certain that we desire for thee comfort, without trouble or
toil. Therefore if thou be not in a state of comfort, arise and
accompany us to our country and our family; but if thou be comfortable
here, in honour and happiness, this is our desire and wish." And Gulnare
replied: "By Allah, I am in a state of the utmost enjoyment, in honour
and desirable happiness." So when the king heard these words from her,
he rejoiced, and he thanked her for them; his love for her penetrated to
his heart's core, and he knew that she loved him as he loved her, and
that she desired to remain with him to see his child which she was to
bring to him.

Then the damsel Gulnare of the Sea gave orders to the female slaves to
bring forward viands of all kinds; and Gulnare herself was the person
who superintended the preparation of the viands in the kitchen. So the
female slaves brought to them the viands, and the sweetmeats, and the
fruits; and she ate with her family. But afterward they said to her: "O
Gulnare, thy master is a man who is a stranger to us, and we have
entered his abode without his permission, and thou praisest to us his
excellence, and hast also brought to us his food, and we have eaten, but
have not seen him, nor hath he seen us, nor come into our presence, nor
eaten with us, that the bond of bread and salt might be established
between us." And they all desisted from eating, and were enraged at her,
and fire began to issue from their mouths as from cressets. So when the
king beheld this, his reason fled, in consequence of the violence of his
fear of them. Then Gulnare rose to them, and soothed their hearts; after
which she walked along until she entered the closet in which was the
king her master; and she said to him: "O my master, didst thou see, and
didst thou hear my thanks to thee, and my praise of thee in the presence
of my family; and didst thou hear what they said to me, that they
desired to take me with them to our family and our country?" The king
answered her: "I heard and saw. May God recompense thee! By Allah, I
knew not the extent of the love that thou feelest for me until this
blessed hour." She replied: "O my master, is the recompense of
beneficence aught but beneficence? How then could my heart be happy to
quit thee, and to depart from thee? Now I desire of thy goodness that
thou come and salute my family, that they may see thee, and that
pleasure and mutual friendship may ensue. For know