the Princess Giauhara — ESS

 

+i

said to him, ‘My lord, you’ have no reason to stay any longer in
this city: mount the mare, and return to your kingdom. I have
but one thing more to recommend to you; and that is, if you

' should_ever happen to part with the mare, be sure not to give

up the bridle.” King Beder promised to remember it; and having
taken leave of the good old man, he departed. —

- The young King of Persia no sooner got out of the city, than
he began to reflect with joy on the deliverance he had had, and
that he had the sorceress in his power, who had given him so
much cause to tremble. Three days after he arrived at a great
city, where, entering the suburbs, he met a venerable old man.
‘Sir,’ said the old man, stopping him, ‘may I presume to ask from
what part of the world you come?’ The king stopped to tell
him, and as they were discoursing together, an old woman came
up; who, stopping likewise, wept and sighed bitterly at the sight
of the mare.

King Beder and the old'man left off discoursing, to look at
the old woman, whom the king asked what cause she had to
lament so much, ‘Alas! sir, replied she, ‘it is because your mare
resembles. so perfectly one my‘ son had, which I still mourn the
loss of on his account. I should think yours were the same, did
I not know she was dead. Sell her to me, I beseech you: I ae
give you more than she is worth, and thank you too.’

“Good woman,’ replied King Beder, ‘I am _ heartily sorry I
cannot comply with your request: my mare is not to be sold.’

, ‘Alas! sir, continued the old woman, ‘do not refuse me this
favour. My son and I will Pa die with grief if you do not
grant it,

‘Good mother replied the ne ‘I would grant it with all my
heart, if I was disposed to part with so good a beast; but if I
were so disposed, I believe you would hardly give a thousand
pieces of gold for her, and I could not sell her for less.’