The thieves, after some time waiting the return of their comrade, sent in another, (supposing he might be secreting the jewels) to explore the cause of his delay. He also fell, and in the same manner the whole twenty, one after another, slumbered in the dust, and the court of the temple was dyed with their blood.

When the prince had killed the twenty thieves, he awakened the prin­cess; who, on perceiving her situation, trembled with affright; but Ferokh-Faul having assured her that she was secure against injury, and acquainting her of the danger she had escaped, allayed her apprehensions, and undertook to re-con­vey her to the palace. Exerting his utmost strength, he lifted the bed upon his head, and carried it to the wall of the royal citadel; where forming a kummund of his turban, and tying it to the feet, he with great agility mounted the battlements. Drawing up the bed with the princess, he conducted her to her apartment, which she pointed out. The princess having offered to the Almighty thanksgivings for her most for­tunate escape, expressed her gratitude to Ferokh-Faul, whom she entreated to inform her who he was, and in what manner she could repay such unbounded obligations.

Having given a summary of his adventures, he offered to take leave; but the princess said, “O thou, for the dust of whose feet my life and head are a ransom, although it is impossible for me to perform any service equal to my obligations, yet if thou hast any particular object in view, out of kind­ness let me know, that I may to the utmost of my ability promote its com­pletion.” Ferokh-Faul thanked her for the gracious offers of assistance, but insisted on departure; which the princess opposed with many arguments. While they were in conversation the gleams of dawn appeared, and the attendants of the haram, agreeably to custom, came to wait on their mistress.

When they beheld the princess sit­ting with a handsome youth, supposing that a rent had been made in the curtain of the royal honour, they trembled like the reed, from dread of punishment, and were for some instants overcome with silent amazement. At length, regarding secrecy and connivance as the means of their own ruin, they hastened to the nazir,* whom they informed of the calamitous circumstance. At first he refused to credit them, esteeming such an incident beyond the reach of possibility; but on their repeated asseverations, proceeded to the chamber of the princess, and was convinced that the lightning of disgrace had fallen on the stores of honour, and that the flames of ruin were enkindled. For an instant his senses deserted him, and fire of anger was fanned by the gusts of passion. Without consideration, he rushed upon Ferokh-Faul, and with dishonouring violence pulling him from his seat, tied his hands behind him; when the princess exclaimed, “Stupid nazir, this youth is my adopted brother; dare not to injure a single hair of his head.” The nazir, supposing her words to proceed from hardened assurance, replied, “Ah! daughter, enemy to modesty, who hast polluted the fountain of thy father’s honour with the mud of disgrace, and scattered the filth of vice on the head of thy virginity, darest thou with such shame­less impudence to intercede for this wicked wretch, worthy of impalement, while thou must know, that only a few breaths remain of thy own life?” The princess was enraged at the insolence of the nazir, but as her hand was unable to punish him, shedding floods of tears, she moistened her cheeks, which appeared as blooming roses wet with dew.

The nazir, having proceeded to the sultaun, said, “O king, may the extent of thy life exceed the ability of the most subtle arithmeticians to cal­culate! Last night a most incredible affair occurred in the royal haram, at the detection of which, the wine of understanding has flowed from the goblet of my brain. I have no power to detail it to the gracious audience, yet dare I not connive at or conceal it.” The sultaun, much alarmed at this preamble, exclaimed, “What is the affair, surely the lamp of safety must be extinguished in the royal chamber, or a link of purity be broken from the chain* of majesty.”

The nazir now, according to the rules of the intelligent in respectful address, related the circumstance; when the anger of the sultaun arose like the waves of the raging sea, and in the height of his fury, he commanded the overthrow of the foundations of the life of the innocent prince, who was instantly con­ducted towards the place of execution. Ferokh-Faul, resigning himself to the divine will, advanced his steps firmly to meet death.

The princess, distracted at the situa­tion of her deliverer, ran wildly into the presence of the sultaun, and without regarding the forms of respect, standing in the place of petitioners, cried out, “O my father, without examination, or drawing facts from beneath the veil of appearances, to shed the blood of the innocent, and without proof of guilt, to command the destruction of the mansions of existence, is not the custom of the just and impartial, but, unworthy of sovereigns, who are entrusted with the protection of their people. To allow the execution of this young man, who is deserving of a thousand favours, and has the highest claims upon the gratitude of our royal house, will be bringing upon us the displeasure of the Almighty. Reflect, then, before that period, when this transaction, if allowed, shall be unfolded in the court of a just judge, and thou, sovereign as thou now art, standing alike with the beggar in the place of retribution, shall be unable to answer the enquiry.”

The sultaun, impressed by this speech, commanded the execution to be delayed till further orders, and demanded of his daughter particulars of the affair. With­out exaggeration, she related her adven­ture, and said, “The proof of my veracity will be found in the bodies of the robbers now lying in the temple.”

When the sultaun, on examination of the temple, was convinced of the truth of the princess’s account, he trembled, and blushed at his own rashness. Having sent for Ferokh-Faul into his presence, he entreated his pardon; and having placed him in the seat of honour, with much respect said, “I trust thou wilt not let thy gracious heart be angered against me at an error, common to humanity, which I have committed, but cherish as thy handmaid this pearl of royalty.”

Ferokh-Faul replied, “O king of kings, as the providential Designer had stamped such characters on the tablet of my forehead, it would not be just that I should complain of your majesty’s servants. The offer to receive this wanderer in the path of exile as a dependant on the throne, is a favour, which never could have entered the imagination of expectancy; but my disappointment in this unlooked-for blessing proceeds from an object which has long occupied my mind. I must therefore request your majesty will favour me by a speedy dismissal, which is the highest honour I can at present hope for.”

The sultaun very unwillingly consented, and Ferokh-Faul leaving the capital, with his friend Jaffier, proceeded on his way in the path of uncertainty, till he came to the city of Oogein,* where he took up his residence, to wait intelli­gence of the plunderer of his heart.