and the cypress, of King Sinaubar and Queen Gul. When he came to
the killing of the negroes, he said to the one who stood before them:
'You, too, were present.'

'That is so; all happened as you have told it!'

There was great rejoicing in the court and all through the country
over the solving of the riddle, and because now no more kings and
princes would be killed. King Quimus made over his daughter to Prince
Almas, but the latter refused to marry her, and took her as his
captive. He then asked that the heads should be removed from the
battlements and given decent burial. This was done. He received from
the king everything that belonged to Mihr-afruz; her treasure of gold
and silver; her costly stuffs and carpets; her household plenishing;
her horses and camels; her servants and slaves.

Then he returned to his camp and sent for Dil-aram, who came bringing
her goods and chattels, her gold and her jewels. When all was ready,
Prince Almas set out for home, taking with him Jamila, and Dil-aram
and Gul, daughter of Taram-taq, and the wicked Mihr-afruz, and all the
belongings of the four, packed on horses and camels, and in carts
without number.

As he approached the borders of his father's country word of his
coming went before him, and all the city came forth to give him
welcome. King Saman-lal-posh--Jessamine, wearer of rubies--had so
bewept the loss of his sons that he was now blind. When the prince had
kissed his feet and received his blessing, he took from a casket a
little collyrium of Solomon, which the Simurgh had given him, and
which reveals the hidden things of earth, and rubbed it on his
father's eyes. Light came, and the king saw his son.

Mihr-afruz was brought before the king, and the prince said: 'This is
the murderer of your sons; do with her as you will.' The king fancied
that the prince might care for the girl's beauty, and replied: 'You
have humbled her; do with her as you will.'

Upon this the prince sent for four swift and strong horses, and had
the negro bound to each one of them; then each was driven to one of
the four quarters, and he tore in pieces like muslin.

This frightened Mihr-afruz horribly, for she thought the same thing
might be done to herself. She cried out to the prince: 'O Prince
Almas! what is hardest to get is most valued. Up till now I have been
subject to no man, and no man had had my love. The many kings and
kings' sons who have died at my hands have died because it was th