and without a partner, that on
beholding her I again became senseless; the princess also perceived
it, and sprinkled me with rose water out of a phial held by her
own fair hand. In twenty days my wounds filled up and granulated;
the princess used to come [regularly] at night when all were asleep,
and she then supplied me with food and drink. In short, after forty
days, I performed the ablution [of perfect recovery]; [324] the
princess was extremely rejoiced, and rewarded the surgeon largely,
and clothed me richly. By the grace of God, and the care and attentions
of the princess, I became quite stout and healthy, and my constitution
became sound; the dog also grew fat. She made me drink wine every day,
listened to my conversation, and was pleased. I used also to amuse
her by relating some agreeable stories and brief narratives.

"One day she asked to me, 'pray relate thy adventures, and tell me
who you are, and how this accident has happened to you,' I related to
her my whole history from beginning to end. On hearing this, she wept
and said, 'I will now behave to thee in such a manner that thou wilt
forget all thy [past] misfortunes,' I replied, 'God preserve you; you
have bestowed on me a second existence, and I am now wholly yours; for
God's sake, be pleased ever to regard me in this favourable manner.' In
short, she used to sit all night with me alone; sometimes the nurse
likewise stayed with her and heard my stories, and related [others
herself.] When the princess used to go away and I remained alone,
I used to perform my ablutions, and concealing myself in a corner,
I used to say my prayers.

"Once it so happened, that the princess had gone to her father, and I
was repeating my prayers in perfect security, after having performed
my ablutions, when suddenly the princess, conversing with her nurse,
entered, saying, 'Let us see what the Persian is now doing; whether
he be asleep or awake!' But seeing that I was not in my place, she was
greatly surprised, and exclaimed, 'Hey day! where is he gone? I hope he
has not formed an attachment with some one else.' She began to examine
every hole and corner in search of me, and at last came to where I was
saying my prayers. She had never seen any one perform his prayers;
[325] she stood in silence, and looked on. When I had finished my
prayers, and lifted up my arms to bless God, and prostrated myself,
she laughed loudly, and said, 'What! is this man become mad? what
various