o had
come from afar to sit in the shadow of King Sinaubar.

Now the Simurgh had given the prince a diamond weighing thirty
misqals, and he offered this to the king, who at once recognised its
value, and asked where it had been obtained. 'I, your slave, once had
riches and state and power; there are many such stones in my country.
On my way here I was plundered at the Castle of Clashing Swords, and I
saved this one thing only, hidden in my bathing-cloth.' In return for
the diamond, King Sinaubar showered gifts of much greater value, for
he remembered that it was the last possession of the prince. He showed
the utmost kindness and hospitality, and gave his vazir orders to
instal the prince in the royal guest-house. He took much pleasure in
his visitor's society; they were together every day and spent the time
most pleasantly. Several times the king said: 'Ask me for something,
that I may give it you.' One day he so pressed to know what would
pleasure the prince, that the latter said: 'I have only one wish, and
that I will name to you in private.' The king at once commanded every
one to withdraw, and then Prince Almas said: 'The desire of my life is
to know what the rose did to the cypress, and what meaning there is in
the words.' The king was astounded. 'In God's name! if anyone else had
said that to me I should have cut off his head instantly.' The prince
heard this in silence, and presently so beguiled the king with
pleasant talk that to kill him was impossible.

[Illustration: THE PUNISHMENT OF THE ROSE]

Time flew by, the king again and again begged the prince to ask some
gift of him, and always received this same reply: 'I wish for your
Majesty's welfare, what more can I desire?' One night there was a
banquet, and cupbearers carried round gold and silver cups of
sparkling wine, and singers with sweetest voices contended for the
prize. The prince drank from the king's own cup, and when his head was
hot with wine he took a lute from one of the musicians and placed
himself on the carpet-border and sang and sang till he witched away
the sense of all who listened. Applause and compliments rang from
every side. The king filled his cup and called the prince and gave it
to him and said: 'Name your wish! it is yours.' The prince drained off
the wine and answered: 'O king of the world! learn and know that I
have only one aim in life, and this is to know what the rose did to
the cypress.'

'Never yet,' replied the king,