When they had travelled a considerable distance, and far beyond what she had expected, Mherbanou, much fatigued and alarmed, exclaimed, “Where hastenest thou in such hurry, O my prince? Let us rest awhile, for my limbs are full of pain from such excessive motion.” As Hoshung did not think it prudent yet to discover himself, he remained silent. Upon this, alarm overcame the mind of Mherbanou, and dread prevailed in her heart, lest a ghole, having ensnared her, should be leading her into the wilds of destruction. She threw off her veil that she might see Hoshung, and know who was her betrayer into the path of error, and what was his object. On beholding the face of a stranger, she trembled like the reed, and became motionless and pale as a statue, from apprehension lest the fair shrub of her purity should be defiled by the owl, or the rose-bush of chastity become the prey of the ill-boding raven.

At length she addressed Hoshung, saying, “Who art thou, and what art thou called? In thy company horror fills my mind, and the bird of my soul is ready to fly away from its elemental nest.” Hoshung replied, “I am thy unpurchased slave, who have given up the wealth of my patience and understanding in pursuit of thy enjoyment; and regardless of life, in quest of thy love, have preferred ser­vitude to royalty and beggary to dominion. I have made the dust of thy path a collyrium for the eyes of my soul, and cast the head of sovereignty as clay at thy feet. Tho’ I am a king, I glory in being thy slave; and tho’ a free prince, I wish not for an instant deliverance from thy captivity.

“In such circumstances, why art thou disgusted at me, and wherefore wilt thou not accept a sovereign like myself for thy slave?”

Mherbanou, when informed of the state of affairs, advanced with a smiling aspect, and said, “Ah! crown of my head, the desire of my soul is, that I should bow the forehead of gratitude on the earth of obligation, and offer myself a sacrifice to the dust of thy feet. Long have I born the dart of thy love in my bosom, and long have the flames of passion consumed my heart. When the kings of the world sought my alliance, and wrote to my father, I rolled up their epistles, and inscribed thy name on the tablet of my heart; but as the padlock of the chain of controul was not in my power, helpless as the tulip, the impres­sion of affection remained in my mind, and, like the sunbul, my soul was tortured by distress. Surely my wakeful star has performed a miracle, and heaven has favoured my desires, for my eye enjoys fresh light from the beauty of thy countenance, and my heart exults from the wine of thy interview.

“Praised be God, that what I wished is accomplished to the height of my desires! But I have still a difficulty which is afflicting to my heart, and makes my soul tremble. I had made a vow to the Deity, who is the assistant of the distressed and healer of the wounds of the troubled in spirit, that if, through the aid of my stars and kindly help of fortune, I should gather the flowers of enjoyment from the garden of success, and have my eye gratified with the sight of thy beauty, I would seclude myself for four months in the retirement of devotion, fasting and prayer; and every evening when I should break my fast, in gratitude for such unhoped for mercies, give to the poor and destitute strangers boun­teous alms and comfortable meals. I dread, lest thou wilt not assist me in the performance of my vow, the breach of which would be a sin against religion, and that thy impatience to gather the flowers of enjoyment may make me criminal.”

Hoshung, when he heard such affectionate expressions from Mher­banou, exulted with delight, and expanded in heart like the rose at the waving of the zephyr. Prostrating the forehead of gratitude on the dust of thanksgiving, and offering up prayers at the throne of the self-existing God, he replied, “O thou, to whose soul-de­lighting eloquence my heart and life are a ready sacrifice, and my kingdom and treasures an offering to thy love; wherefore should I, who am a martyr to the sword of affection, and a votary of thy religion, withhold my wealth, or disobey thy commands? Thy orders direct my life, and my being is subject to thy pleasure. Lovers have no power over themselves. Whatever is com­manded, that will I do. Let not, then, thy mind be sorrowful, but per form thy vow; for whatever thou desirest I will procure, and submit my neck to whatever thou mayest command.” In short, he conducted Mherbanou to his kingdom, and, agreeably to her desire placed her in a temple distant about half a fersung from the metropolis. He ordered the necessary accommodations for entertaining the poor and needy travellers, assigned her proper attendants to await her commands, and placed guards around the temple for protection, with such strict orders, that not even a bird dared to extend the wing in the air near it.

He himself, now drawing the thorn of sorrow from his foot, rejoiced; and having ordered festivities at his palace, conferred favours upon all his subjects. Until the expiration of the avowed time, he tried to amuse himself after the man­ner of princes, in hunting excursions; but the ball of his wishes was held in the mace of the princess, and the bird of his soul captivated in the talons of the eagle eyebrow of that moon of the sky of beauty. From excess of desire, pleased by no amusement, hour after hour, he, like astronomers, waited anxiously the rising of his expected star.