470 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. ran his father, though without again mentioning the desire he felt to see him, that this very forbearance made her comprehend his design. She one day, therefore, said to him, “ The permission, prince, whieh you requested of me to go and see your father, afforded me reasonable grounds of objection at the time, but I am now convinced that I ought not to stand in the way of your wish to see your father, and I grant you the permission you formerly re- quested ; but it must nevertheless be upon this condition, that you first promise me your absence shall not be long, but that you will return very soon.” Prince Ahmed, overjoyed at this, readily gave the required promise. When he was ready to start, Pari-Banou gave him twenty horsemen to accompany him, all well mounted and equipped. When everything was ready, he took leave of Pari-Banou, embracing her, and promising to re- turn as soon as possible. They brought him a horse, which the fairy had ordered to be prepared for him; and which, besides being most richly caparisoned, was also much more beautiful, and of greater value than any in the sultan’s stables. He mounted it most gracefully, and after bidding the fairy farewell, set out. As the road which led to the capital of the sultan was not long, Prince Ahmed arrived there in a very short time. As soon as he entered the city, the people were delighted to see him, and received him with acclamations of joy. The most part of them left their business, and accompanied him in crowds till he ar- rived at the sultan’s apartment. His father received and embraced him with the greatest joy ; complaining, nevertheless, in a manner which denoted his paternal affection, of the afflic- tion into which his long absence had thrown him. “And this absence,” added the sultan, “has been the cause of so much the more pain, as, after fate had determined to your disadvantage in favour of your brother Prince Ali, I was fearful that your despair had caused you to commit some rash action.” “ Sire,” replied Prince Ahmed, “I will leave it to your majesty to reflect whether, after having lost the Princess Nourounnihar, who had been the sole object of my wishes, I could resolve to be a witness to the happiness of Prince Ali. “Your majesty may remember,” continued the prince, “that in drawing my bow, the most extraordinary thing happened to me that was ever known, for it. wac impossible, even in a plain so