am mistaken, this is the
work of my wicked sister Latifa, who by magic art turns servants of
God into beasts of the field.' At these words the deer uttered sounds,
and laid its head on her feet. Then Jamila was sure it was a man, and
said: 'Be comforted, I will restore you to your own shape.' She bathed
herself and ordered the deer to be bathed, put on clean raiment,
called for a box which stood in an alcove, opened it and gave a
portion of what was in it to the deer to eat. Then she slipped her
hand under her carpet and produced a stick to which she said
something. She struck the deer hard, it pirouetted and became Prince
Almas.

The broidered kerchief and the jewels lay upon the ground. The prince
prostrated himself in thanks to heaven and Jamila, and said: 'O
delicious person! O Chinese Venus! how shall I excuse myself for
giving you so much trouble? With what words can I thank you?' Then she
called for a clothes-wallet and chose out a royal dress of honour. Her
attendants dressed him in it, and brought him again before the
tender-hearted lady. She turned to him a hundred hearts, took his hand
and seated him beside her, and said: 'O youth! tell me truly who you
are and where you come from, and how you fell into the power of my
sister.'

Even when he was a deer the prince had much admired Jamila; now he
thought her a thousand times more lovely than before. He judged that
in truth alone was safety, and so told her his whole story. Then she
asked: 'O Prince Almas-ruh-bakhsh, do you still wish so much to make
this journey to Waq of Qaf? What hope is there in it? The road is
dangerous even near here, and this is not yet the borderland of the
Caucasus. Come, give it up! It is a great risk, and to go is not wise.
It would be a pity for a man like you to fall into the hands of jins
and demons. Stay with me, and I will do whatever you wish.'

'O most delicious person!' he answered, 'you are very generous, and
the choice of my life lies in truth in your hands; but I beg one
favour of you. If you love me, so do I too love you. If you really
love me, do not forbid me to make this journey, but help me as far as
you can. Then it may be that I shall succeed, and if I return with my
purpose fulfilled I will marry you according to the law, and take you
to my own country, and we will spend the rest of our lives together in
pleasure and good companionship. Help me, if you can, and give me your
counsel.'

'O very stuff of my life