THE intelligent Jaffier, who was as a shrub of wisdom cherished by the water and air of truth, in order to obtain a clue to the hopes of Ferokh-Faul, per­forming the duties of sincere attachment, exercised an activity which is not to be expressed. After much deliberation, his judgment led to the following plan.

In one of the streets of Oojein, where travellers resorted from the four quarters of the globe, having prepared a ware­house, he stocked it with the rarities of the world, and placed in it the picture which had disturbed the happiness of the prince, in hopes that some voyager might recognize and give him intelligence of the original.

Much time elapsed before his object was answered; but at last a traveller, who had explored the earth, arrived, and said, “This is the picture of a princess who has professed utter detestation of all male-kind. She is queen of Shun­guldeep, a kingdom inhabited only by women; and though her beauty and delicacy of person exceed description, yet in valour and wit she excels Rustum and Isfindear. A desert of two hundred miles in extent, void of water, and the whole tract composed of burning sands, surrounds her dominions, to which entrance is next to impossible; but if by chance some death-devoted wretch find his way, he is instantly slain.”

When Jaffier had heard this account of the queen of the empire of love, having with much joy hastened to the prince, he hailed him with the tidings of success, saying, “No longer give admission to despondency and grief, but prepare to ascend the throne of enjoyment; for the dawn of success hath gleamed from the horizon of prosperity, and the sun of attainment arisen from the east of good fortune.”

Ferokh-Faul was so overjoyed at these happy tidings, that, in the intoxi­cation of delight, he forgot himself, and loosing the reins of the steed of patience from his hands, wished to soar as a bird, and at one flight to reach the country of his beloved. Jaffier, with much diffi­culty, restrained his impatience, and pre­vailed upon him to remain a few days. During this interval, he provided some rich suits of female attire, and various sorts of musical instruments, (on which the prince and himself excelled in play­ing, as also in vocal performance) hoping, under the disguise of singing-girls, to gain admission to the Amazonian queen. Having every thing ready, they resigned themselves to the guidance of provi­dence, and pursued their journey towards the object of hope.

After many days of toilsome march, they at length reached the wilderness mentioned by the traveller; through which, with much difficulty, they pro­ceeded. When the sun had ascended to its zenith, having reached the foot of a tree, they spread the cloths of repose, to rest under its shade from the excessive heat. As it happened, in this tree a simurgh* had built her nest, towards which a monstrous black snake was winding its way to destroy the brood; but the prince, drawing his sabre, cut him in pieces, and laid the fragments in a heap on the ground; after which, overcome by sleep, he lay down, as did also Jaffier.

Towards sun-set, the simurgh, who had flown in search of food for her young, returned, laden with the most delicate fruits from various parts of the earth. When she perceived the sleep­ers, supposing them enemies to her off­spring, she was going to put them to death; but the nestlings seeing her inten­tion, informed her of their escape from the snake through the humanity of the prince. Upon this the simurgh, repenting her rashness, advanced softly to the pillow of Ferokh-Faul, and gently awaking him, uttered grateful thanks for his kindness, presenting him at the same time with an offering of delicious fruits; and saying, “In return for the kind­ness shewn to my young ones, I now adopt thee as my son, and regard the furtherance of thy views, by every mean in my power, as incumbent upon me. Let me know then, if thou hast any design in pursuit, with­out reserve, that I may use every endeavour to promote its completion, and give my utmost assistance to ensure its success.”