When he came before Zumurrudhe saluted and kissed the earth before herwhilst she returned his greeting and received him with honour. Then said she to him'What is thy name and condition and what brought thee hither?'O King,'answered he,'my name is Ali Shar;I am of the sons of the merchants of Khorassan and the object of my coming hither is to seek for a slave-girl whom I have lost;for she was dearer to me than my sight and my hearingand indeed my soul cleaves to hersince I lost her.'And he wepttill he swooned away. She caused sprinkle rose-water on his facetill he came to himselfwhen she said,'Bring me the table of sand and the pen.'So they brought them and she took the pen and drew a geomantic figurewhich she considered awhile;then'Thou hast spoken sooth,'quoth she.
'God will grant thee speedy reunion with her;so be not troubled.'Then she bade her chamberlain carry him to the bath and after clothe him in a handsome suit of royal appareland mount him an one of the best of the King's horses and bring him to the palace at end of day. So the chamberlain took him away,whilst the folk said to one another'What makes the King deal thus courteously with yonder youth?'And one said'Did I not tell you that he would do him no hurt? For he is fair of aspect;
and this I knewwhen the King suffered him to eat his fill.'And each said his say;after which they all dispersed and went their ways.
As for Zumurrudshe thought the night would never comethat she might be alone with the beloved of her heart. As soon as it was duskshe withdrew to her sleeping-chamber and made as she were overcome with sleep;and it was her wont to suffer none to pass the night with hersave the two little eunuchs that waited upon her. After a littleshe sent for Ali Shar and sat down upon the bedwith candles burning at her head and feet and the place lighted with hanging lamps of gold that shone like the sun. When the people heard of her sending for Ali Sharthey marvelled and said'Algatesthe King is enamoured of this young manand to-morrow he will make him commander of the troops.'And each thought his thought and said his say. When they brought him in to herhe kissed the earth before her and called down blessings on herand she said in herself'Needs must I jest with him awhile,ere I make myself known to him.'Then said she to him'O Ali,hast thou been to the bath?'YesO my lord,'answered he.
'Comeeat of this fowl and meat and drink of this wine and sherbet of sugar,'said she;'for thou art weary;and after come hither.'I hear and obey,'replied he and did as she bade him.
When he had made an end of eating and drinkingshe said to him,'Come up with me on the couch and rub my feet.'So he fell to rubbing her feet and legs and found them softer than silk. Then said she'Go higher with the rubbing;'and he'Pardon meO my lordI will go no higher than the knee.'Whereupon'Wilt thou gainsay me?'quoth she. 'It shall be an ill-omened night for thee! Naybut it behoves thee to do my bidding and I will make thee my minion and appoint thee one of my Amirs.'And in what must I do thy biddingO King of the age?'asked Ali. 'Put off thy trousers,'answered she'and lie down on thy face.'Quoth he'That is a thing I never in my life did;and if thou force me theretoI will accuse thee thereof before God on the Day of Resurrection. Take all thou hast given me and let me go to my own city.'And he wept and lamented. But she said'Put off thy trousers and lie down on thy faceor I will strike off thy head.'So he did as she bade him and she mounted upon his back.
And he felt what was softer than silk and fresher than cream and said in himself'Of a truththis King is better than all the women!'
She abode a while on his backthen turned over on to the ground,and he said [in himself]'Praised be God! It seems his yard is not in point.'Then said she'O Aliit is of the wont of my yard that it standeth not on endexcept it be rubbed with the hand;sosomerub it with thy handtill it be in pointelse will I kill thee.'So sayingshe lay down on her back and taking his handset it to her kazeand he found it a kaze softer than silkwhiteplump and greatresembling for heat the hot room of the bath or the heart of a loverwhom passion hath wasted. Quoth Ali in himself'Verilythis King hath a kaze. This is a wonder of wonders!'And desire got hold on him and his yard stood on end to the utmost;which when Zumurrud sawshe burst out laughing and said to him'O my lordall this betideth and yet thou knowest me not!'And who art thouO King?'asked he;and she said'I am thy slave-girl Zumurrud.'
When he knew this and was certified that she was indeed his very slave-girl Zumurrudhe threw himself upon heras the lion upon the sheepand kissed her and embraced her. Then he thrust his yard into her poke and stinted not to play the porter at her door and the Imam at her prayer-nichewhilst she with him ceased not from inclination and prostration and rising up and sitting downaccompanying her canticles of praise
with motitations and other amorous gesturestill the [two little] eunuchs [aforesaid] heard [the noise]. So they came and peeping out from behind the curtainssaw the King lying [on his back] and Ali Shar upon himthrusting and thronging amain,whilst she puffed and blew and wriggled. Quoth they'This is no man's wriggle;belike this King is a woman.'But they concealed their affair and discovered it to none.
On the morrowZumurrud summoned all the troops and the grandees of the realm and said to them'I am minded to journey to this man's country;so choose a deputywho shall rule over youtill I return to you.'And they answered'We hear and obey.'Then she applied herself to making ready for the journey and furnished herself with victual and treasure and camels and mules and so forth;after which she set out with Ali Sharand they fared on,till they arrived at his native placewhere he entered his house and gave alms and largesse. God vouchsafed him children by her,and they both lived the happiest of livestill there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of Companies. Glory be to Godthe Eternal without ceaseand praised be He in every case!