450 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

us place ourselves,” said he, “on the carpet, and we may yet, by
the virtues of this apple, save the princess.”

They immediately did so, and as they were all three equally
interested in the same thing, they all instantly formed the same
wish of being transported into the apartment of Nourounnihar,
Their desires were fulfilled, and they were conveyed there so
quickly that they seemed at the end of their journey almost before
it had begun.

The sudden and unexpected presence of the three princes ter-
rified the women and the slaves belonging to the princess, as
they could not in the least comprehend how these men should
so instantly appear in the midst of them. They did not at first
recollect the princes, and the slaves were on the point of attack-
ing them as persons who had penetrated to a place they were
not permitted to approach ; they soon, however, discovered their
error, and recognised their persons.

Prince Ahmed no sooner perceived himself in the apartment
of the princess, and discovered Nourounnihar almost at the point
of death, than he got up from the carpet, as did also the other
two princes, and going up to the bed, he applied the wonderful
apple to her nose. In a few moments the princess opened her
eyes, turned her head round on each side, and looking at those
who stood near her, she raised herself in the bed, and desired to
be dressed: she did all this with the same ease and recollection
as if she had just awakened from a long sleep. Her women
immediately informed her that it was to the princes her cousins,
and more particularly to Prince Ahmed, that she was indebted
for so sudden and complete a recovery of her health. She ex-
pressed great pleasure at seeing them again, and thanked them
all, more especially Prince Ahmed, for their goodness. As she
had mentioned her intention of dressing herself, the princes
were satisfied with only saying that they were extremely happy
at having arrived at a time when they were enabled to contri-
bute to her recovery from the imminent danger in which they
had beheld her, and with expressing their most ardent vows for
the long duration of her life ; they then immediately retired.

While Nourounnihar was dressing, the princes went directly
from her apartment, to throw themselves at the feet of the sultan
their father, and pay him their respects. And when they came
into his presence. they found that the principal slave of the