'has any man come out from that
question alive. If this is your only wish, so be it; I will tell you.
But I will do this on one condition only, namely, that when you have
heard you will submit yourself to death.' To this the prince agreed,
and said: 'I set my foot firmly on this compact.'

The king then gave an order to an attendant; a costly carpet overlaid
with European velvet was placed near him, and a dog was led in by a
golden and jewelled chain and set upon the splendid stuffs. A band of
fair girls came in and stood round it in waiting.

Then, with ill words, twelve negroes dragged in a lovely woman,
fettered on hands and feet and meanly dressed, and they set her down
on the bare floor. She was extraordinarily beautiful, and shamed the
glorious sun. The king ordered a hundred stripes to be laid on her
tender body; she sighed a long sigh. Food was called for and
table-cloths were spread. Delicate meats were set before the dog, and
water given it in a royal cup of Chinese crystal. When it had eaten
its fill, its leavings were placed before the lovely woman and she was
made to eat of them. She wept and her tears were pearls; she smiled
and her lips shed roses. Pearls and flowers were gathered up and taken
to the treasury.

'Now,' said the king, 'you have seen these things and your purpose is
fulfilled.' 'Truly,' said the prince, 'I have seen things which I have
not understood; what do they mean, and what is the story of them? Tell
me and kill me.'

Then said the king: 'The woman you see there in chains is my wife; she
is called Gul, the Rose, and I am Sinaubar, the Cypress. One day I was
hunting and became very thirsty. After great search I discovered a
well in a place so secret that neither bird nor beast nor man could
find it without labour. I was alone, I took my turban for a rope and
my cap for a bucket. There was a good deal of water, but when I let
down my rope, something caught it, and I could not in any way draw it
back. I shouted down into the well: "O! servant of God! whoever you
are, why do you deal unfairly with me? I am dying of thirst, let go!
in God's name." A cry came up in answer, "O servant of God! we have
been in the well a long time; in God's name get us out!" After trying
a thousand schemes, I drew up two blind women. They said they were
peris, and that their king had blinded them in his anger and had left
them in the well alone.

'"Now," they said, "if you will get us the cure for our bli