er wishes,
but in vain; the prince was not to be moved. Then she called to the
cupbearers for new wine, for she thought that when his head was hot
with it he might consent to stay. The pure, clear wine was brought;
she filled a cup and gave to him. He said: 'O most enchanting
sweetheart! it is the rule for the host to drink first and then the
guest.' So to make him lose his head, she drained the cup; then filled
it again and gave him. He drank it off, and she took a lute from one
of the singers and played upon it with skill which witched away the
sense of all who heard. But it was all in vain; three days passed in
such festivities, and on the fourth the prince said: 'O joy of my
eyes! I beg now that you will bid me farewell, for my way is long and
the fire of your love darts flame into the harvest of my heart. By
heaven's grace I may accomplish my purpose, and, if so, I will come
back to you.'

[Illustration: PRINCE ALMAS TRANSFORMED]

Now she saw that she could not in any way change his resolve, she told
her nurse to bring a certain casket which contained, she said,
something exhilarating which would help the prince on his journey. The
box was brought, and she divided off a portion of what was within and
gave it to the prince to eat. Then, and while he was all unaware, she
put forth her hand to a stick fashioned like a snake; she said some
words over it and struck him so sharply on the shoulder that he cried
out; then he made a pirouette and found that he was a deer.

When he knew what had been done to him he thought, 'All the threads of
affliction are gathered together; I have lost my last chance!' He
tried to escape, but the magician sent for her goldsmith, who, coming,
overlaid the deer-horns with gold and jewels. The kerchief which that
day she had had in her hand was then tied round its neck, and this
freed it from her attentions.

The prince-deer now bounded into the garden and at once sought some
way of escape. It found none, and it joined the other deer, which soon
made it their leader. Now, although the prince had been transformed
into the form of a deer, he kept his man's heart and mind. He said to
himself, 'Thank heaven that the Lady Latifa has changed me into this
shape, for at least deer are beautiful.' He remained for some time
living as a deer amongst the rest, but at length resolved that an end
to such a life must be put in some way. He looked again for some place
by which he could get out of the