AHMED AND PARI-BANOU. 485

how much he was obliged to him for so magnificent a present,
and begged him to return the fairy his most grateful thanks,
But in reality he felt still more jealous than when the enchant-
ress and his flatterers first excited that hateful passion in his
breast ; as when he considered the favour of the fairy, he con-
cluded the prince his son could perform many things infinitely
beyond what was in his own power, notwithstanding all his
grandeur and riches. More anxious therefore than ever to dis-
cover some means to destroy him, he again consulted the en-
chantress, who advised him to engage the prince to bring him
some water from the fountain of lions.

When the sultan had as usual assembled his courtiers in the
evening, where Prince Ahmed also was present, he addressed
him in these terms :—“I understand that the fairy your wife
has a certain water from the fountain of lions, which cures all
sorts of diseases. Now as I am very well assured that my
health is very dear to you, I donot suppose that you will be un-
willing to request some of it, and bring it to me, as a sovereign
remedy that I may make use of whenever 1 have occasion.”
After a silence of some time, Prince Ahmed thus replied: “I
entreat your majesty to be assured that there is nothing I am
not myself ready to do to procure what will contribute to prolong
your life ; but I could wish that it were to be done without the
interference of my wife; it is for this reason that I dare not
promise you to procure this water. All I can do is, to assure
you that I will make the request.”

When Prince Ahmed returned to the fairy next morning, he
gave her a sincere and faithful account of everything that he had
done, and of what had happened at the court of the sultan when
he presented the pavilion. Nor did he also omit to mention the
fresh request that the sultan had charged him to make. “He
shall have the water from the fountain of lions,” replied the
fairy ; “but there is great malice in what he demands, as you
will be convinced from the account I am going to give you.
The fountain of lions is in the middle of the court of a large
castle, the entrance to which is guarded by four very powerful
and fierce lions, two of which sleep alternately, while the other
two watch ; but let not this alarm you, I will afford you the
means of passing them without any danger.”

Pari-Banov was at this moment employed with her needle ;