WHEN the sun sunk into the west, and the moon came out of the east, Khojisteh, with a heart full of anguish, and eyes replete with tears, arose, and went to the parrot for leave. Beholding the parrot full of thought, she said, “Why are you pensive?” The parrot replied, “On your account; because I know not what kind of lover yours is—whether he will be faithful to you or not, and act like the parrot of King Kamrew.” Khojisteh asked, “What is the nature of the story of King Kamrew's parrot?”
The parrot began relating the story:—“Once
on a time a fowler threw a net over the nest of a
parrot, and imprisoned therein the parrot together
with her young. The parrot said to her nestlings,
The best way will be for you to feign your-
When the parrot had finished this tale, he addressed himself to Khojisteh, saying, “I am afraid, my lady, lest your lover should act treacherously by you, like the parrot of Roy Kamrew; and this is the cause of my pensiveness. Hasten now to your sweet-heart, but place no reliance on him till you have tried him.” After that, Khojisteh wanted to have gone to her gallant; the morning cock crowed, and the dawn appearing, her departure was deferred.