126 | Prince Camaralzaman and

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and plunged him several times into the water, neck and heels, I
will drown thee, cried he, ‘if thou dost not tell me speedily who
this. lady was, and who. brought her.’

The slave, perplexed and _ half-dead, said within himself, ‘The
prince must have lost his senses through grief’ ‘My lord, then,’
‘cried he, in a suppliant tone,.‘I beseech your highecss to spare
my life, and I will tell you the truth’

The prince drew the slave up, and pressed him to tell him. As
soon as he was out of the well, ‘My lord, said he trembling, ‘ your
highness must perceive that it is impossible for me to satisfy you in
my present condition; I beg Hou to give -me leave to go and change
my. clothes first.”

‘T permit you, but do it quickly,’ said the peateey ‘and be sure
you conceal nothing.’

The slave went out, and having locked the door upon. the
prince, ran to the palace just as he was. The king was at that time

~ in discourse with his prime vizier, to whom he had just related the
grief in which he had passed the night on account of his son’s
disobedience and opposition to his will. The minister endeavoured
to comfort his master by telling him that the prince himself had
given him good cause to be angry. ‘Sir,’ said he, ‘ your majesty need
not .repent of having treated your son after this sort. Have but
patience to let him continue a while in prison, and assure yourself
his temper will abate, and he will submit to all you require.’

The grand vizier had just made an end of speaking when the
slave came in and cast himself at the king’s feet. ‘My lord, said
‘he, ‘I am very sorry to be the messenger of ill news to. your
majesty, which .I know must create you fresh affliction. The
prince is. distracted, my lord; and his treatment to me, as you
may see, too plainly proves it’ Then he proceeded to tell all the

_ particulars of what Prince Camaralzaman had said to him, and
the violence with which he had been. treated. nd