to die, God infused compassion into
his heart, and his anger cooled, and he asked me with much kindness
and gentleness, "Who art thou and why art thou tired of life?"

I replied, "Sit down awhile that I may tell you; my story is very
long and tedious. I am caught in the claws of love, for which reason
I am desperate." On hearing this, he unfastened his waist band, and
having washed his hands and face, he took some food and gave me some
likewise. When he finished his meal, he said, "Say what has befallen
thee?" I related all the adventures of the old man and the princess,
and the cause of my going there, [i. e. to Europe]. On hearing them he
wept at first, and then said, "What numbers of homes this unfortunate
[princess] has ruined! Well, thy cure is in my hands; it is probable
that through the means of this guilty being thou wilt attain thy
wishes; do not give way to anxiety; be confident." He then ordered
the barber to shave me, and to apply to me the bath; [375] his slave
brought me a suit of clothes and dressed me: then the young man said
to me, "This bier which thou seest is that of the late young prince,
who was confined in the iron cage; another _wazir_ murdered him at last
through treachery; he indeed has obtained release though he has been
wrongfully slain. I am his foster brother; I put that _wazir_ to death
with a blow of my sword, and made the attempt to kill the king; but
he entreated mercy, and swore that he was innocent; I having spurned
him as a coward, allowed him to escape. Since then, my occupation has
been this, to carry the bier, in this manner, through the city, on the
first Thursday of every moon, and to mourn for the [murdered prince]."

On hearing these circumstances, from his mouth, I attained some
consolation, saying, "If he should wish it, then my desires will be
accomplished; God has favoured me greatly, since he has made such
a mad man well inclined towards me; so true is it, that if God is
favourable, all goes well." When the evening came, and the sun set,
the young man took up the bier, and instead of one of the slaves,
he put it on my head and took me along with him. He said, "I am
going to the princess, and will plead for thee as much as I am able;
do not thou open thy lips, but remain silent and listen." I replied,
"Whatever you advise, I will strictly do; God preserve you, for you
feel pity on my case." That young man proceeded towards the royal
garden, and when we entered it, I perc