‘I made the coffer fly as quick as possible during the night and surpassed the wind in swiftness. At daybreak I looked through a hole to observe where I was. I perceived only mountainous precipices an arid country, and a frightful desert. Wherever I looked I saw no trace of a habitation. I con­tinued to go through the air all the day and the night following. The following day I found myself above a very thick wood, near which was a rather beautiful town, situated in a vast plain.

‘I stopped to look at the town as well as at a magnificent palace which appeared before my eyes at the extremity of the plain. I wished ardently to know where I was, and I was thinking how I could satisfy my curiosity when I saw a peasant tilling the ground. I descended into the wood, left my coffer there, and advanced towards the labourer, of whom I asked the name of this town.

‘“Young man,” he replied, “it is easy to see that you are a stranger, since you do not know that this town is called Gazna. The just and brave King Bahaman lives there.”

‘“And who lives,” I said, “in the palace which we see at the end of the plain?”

‘“The King of Gazna,” he replied, “has had it built to enclose the Princess Schirina his daughter, whose horoscope foretells that she will be deceived by a man. Bahaman, to make this prediction vain, has had this palace of marble built, surrounded by deep ditches of water. The door is of Chinese steel, and although the king has the key, there is a numerous guard which watches day and night to defend its entrance from all men. The king goes once a week to see the princess his daughter, then he returns to Gazna. Schirina has for sole com­panions a governess and some women slaves.”

‘I thanked the peasant for having told me all these things, and turned my steps towards the town. As I was just reaching it I heard a great noise, and soon I saw several magnificently dressed cavaliers appear, all mounted on very fine horses which were richly caparisoned.

‘I perceived in the midst of this superb caval­cade a man wearing on his head a gold crown, whose clothes were strewn with diamonds. I gathered that it was the King of Gazna, who was on his way to see the princess his daughter, and I ascertained in the town that I was not wrong in my conjecture.

‘After having explored the town and satisfied my curiosity a little, I remembered my coffer, and although I had left it in a spot which I thought safe, I became uneasy. I left Gazna and my mind was not at rest until I arrived where I had left it. Then I recovered my tranquillity, I ate with much appetite what remained of my provisions, and, as night fell immediately, I resolved to pass it in the wood. I hoped deep sleep would not delay in over­coming me, for my debts, as well as the plight I was in, caused me some anxiety. I could not sleep, however. What the peasant had told me of the Princess Schirina was constantly in my thoughts. “Is it possible,” I cried, “that Bahaman is alarmed at a frivolous prediction? Is it neces­sary to have a palace built to enclose his daughter. Would she not have been secure in his? On the other hand, if the astrologers indeed pierce the darkness of the future, if they read in the stars future events, it is useless to wish to elude their predictions, they must of necessity take place. All the precautions that human prudence can take cannot prevent a misfortune traced in the stars from descending upon our heads. Since the Princess of Gazna is destined to have a weakness for a man, it is in vain they try to protect her from it.” By dint of occupying myself with Schirina, whom I depicted as more beautiful than all the ladies I had seen—and I had seen at Surat and at Goa a good number of rather beautiful women, who had contributed not a little to my ruin—the desire seized me to try my fortune.

‘“I must,” I said to myself, “transport myself on to the roof of the princess’s palace, and try to introduce myself into her apartment. I shall perhaps have the good fortune to please her. Perhaps I am the mortal whose audacity the astrologers have seen written in the skies.

‘I was young and consequently hot-headed, I was not wanting in courage; I formed this bold resolution and executed it at once. I rose in the air and guided my coffer in the direction of the palace. The night was as dark as could be desired. I passed unperceived above the heads of the soldiers, who, dispersed around the moat, kept vigilant guard. I descended on the roof near a place where I saw a light. I left my coffer and slipped through a window open to the freshness of the night into an apartment ornamented with rich furniture, where, on a brocade sofa, slept the Princess Schirina, whose beauty seemed to me dazzling. I found her beyond anything I had conceived. I approached to contemplate her, but I could not look unmoved on so much charm. I fell on my knees before her, and kissed one of her beautiful hands. She awoke instantly, and per­ceiving a man in an attitude calculated to alarm her, she uttered a cry which soon brought to her her governess, who slept in a neighbouring room.

‘“Mahpakar,” said the princess, “come to my aid. Here is a man! How could he get into my apartment? Are you the accomplice of his crime?”

‘“Who? I?” replied the governess. “What an insulting suspicion! I am not less astonished than you to see this bold young fellow here; besides, had I wished to favour his audacity, how should I have deceived the vigilance of the guard which surrounds this castle? You know, moreover, that there are twenty doors of steel to open before reaching this room, that the royal seal is on each lock, and that the king your father has the keys. I do not know how this young man has been able to surmount all these difficulties.”

‘Whilst the governess was speaking thus, I was thinking what I should say to them. It occurred to me to persuade them that I was the Prophet Mahomet.

‘“Beautiful princess,” I said to Schirina, “do not be surprised, nor Mahpakar either, at seeing me appear here. I am not one of those lovers prodi­gal in gold and every kind of artifice in order to gain their desires. I feel no desire that your virtue need take alarm at; far from me be all criminal thought. I am the Prophet Mahomet. I could not without pity see you condemned to pass your days in prison, and I come to offer you my help in protecting you from the prediction which alarms Bahaman, your father. Henceforth let your mind be at rest as regards your lot, which cannot be otherwise than full of glory and of happiness, since you will be the spouse of Mahomet. As soon as the news of your marriage has spread through the world, all the kings will fear the father-in-law of the great Prophet, and all the princesses will envy your fate!”

‘Schirina and her governess looked at each other at this speech, as if to consult as to what they should think of it. I had occasion to fear, I admit, that it would meet with little credulity from them, but women willingly believe in the marvellous. Mahpakar and her mistress believed in my fable; they believed me to be Mahomet, and I abused their credulity. After having persuaded the Princess of Gazna to believe herself my wife, I left her before daybreak, not without promising to return the following day. I regained my machine with all speed, entered it, and ascended very far in order not to be seen by the soldiers. I descended in the wood, left the coffer there, and went towards the town, where I bought provisions for a week, some mag­nificent garments, a beautiful turban of Indian cloth striped with gold, and a rich belt. I did not forget to buy essences and the best perfumes. I spent all my money in these purchases without troubling about the future; it seemed to me I could want for nothing after so pleasant an adven­ture. I remained all day in the wood, where I occupied myself in adorning and perfuming myself. As soon as night had come I entered the box and betook myself to the roof of Schirina’s palace. I introduced myself into her apartment as on the preceding night.

‘The princess gave evidence of awaiting me with much impatience: “O great Prophet,” she said, “I was beginning to get anxious, and I feared lest you had already forgotten your wife.”

‘“Ah! my dear princess,” I replied, “how could you fear that? Since you have my word, ought you not to be certain that I shall always love you?”

‘“But tell me,” she replied, “why you look so young? I thought that the Prophet Mahomet was a venerable old man.”

‘“Do not be mistaken,” I said; “that is the right idea to have of me, and if I appeared before you as I appear sometimes to the Faithful to whom I wish to do honour, you would see me with a long white beard and a bald head; but I thought you would like me to appear less aged, that is why I appear in the form of a young man.” The governess, joining in the conversation, told me that I was very well made, and could not appear more agreeably as a husband.