书城公版Volume Four
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第63章 THE ENCHANTED HORSE.(10)

So he turned to the King and said to him'O KingI must see the horse in question: haply I may find in it somewhat that will serve me for the recovery of the damsel.'With all my heart,'replied the King and taking him by the handled him to the place where the horse was. The prince went round about it,examining its conditionand found it whole and unhurtwhereat he rejoiced greatly and said to the King'May God exalt the King! I would fain go in to the damselthat I may see how it is with her;for I hopeby God's graceto cure her by means of the horse.'Then he bade take care of the horse and the King carried him to the princess's apartmentwhere he found her writhing and beating herself against the groundas was her wont;but there was no madness in herand she did this but that none might approach her. When the prince saw her thushe said to her'No harm shall betide theeO ravishment of all creatures;'and went on to soothe her and speak her fairtill he won to make himself known to her;whereupon she gave a loud cry and fell down in a swoon for excess of joy;but the King thought this came of her fear of him.

Then the prince put his mouth to her ear and said to her'O seduction of the universehave a care for thy life and mine and be patient and constant;for we have need of patience and skilful ordinance to make shift for our delivery from this tyrannical King. To begin withI will now go out to him and tell him that thou art possessed of a genieand hence thy madness;butthat if he will loose thee from thy bondsI will engage to heal thee and drive away the evil spirit. Sowhen he comes in to theedo thou give him fair wordsthat he may think I have cured theeand all will be accomplished as we desire.'Quoth she'I hear and obey;'and he went out to the Kingfull of joy and happinessand said to him'O august Kingby thy good fortune I have discovered her disease and its remedy and have cured her for thee. So now do thou go in to her and speak softly to her and entreat her kindlyand promise her what may please her;so shall all thou desirest of her be accomplished to thee.'So he went in to her and when she saw himshe rose and kissing the groundbade him welcome;whereat he was greatly rejoiced and bade the eunuchs and waiting-women attend her and carry her to the bath and make ready for her dresses and ornaments.

So they went in to her and saluted herand she returned their greetingafter the goodliest and pleasantest fashion;after which they clad her in royal apparel and clasping a collar of jewels about her neckcarried her to the bath and served her there. Then they brought her forthas she were the full moon;and when she came into the King's presenceshe saluted him and kissed the ground before himwhereupon he rejoiced in her with an exceeding joy and said to the prince'All this is of thy blessingmay God increase us of thy good offices!'Quoth the prince'O Kingit behovesfor the completion of her cure,that thou carry her forthtogether with the ebony horseand attend her with all thy troops to the place where thou foundest herthat there I may expel from her the evil spiritby whom she is possessedand bind him and kill himso he may never more return to her.'With all my heart,'answered the King.

Then he caused carry out the horse to the meadow in question and mountingrode thither with all his troops and the princess,knowing not the prince's purpose.

When they came to the appointed placethe prince bade set the horse and the princess as far as the eye could reach from the King and his troops and said to the former'With thy leaveI will now proceed to the needful fumigations and conjurations and imprison the genie herethat he may nevermore return to her. After thisI shall mount the horse and take the damsel up behind me;whereupon it will sway to and fro and fare forward,till it come to theewhen the affair will be at an end;and after this thou mayst do with her as thou wilt.'And when the King heard his wordshe rejoiced with an exceeding joy. So the prince mounted the horse and taking the princess up behind him,bound her fast to himwhilst the King and his troops watched him. Then he turned the peg of ascent and the horse took flight and soared with them into the airtill he disappeared from sight.

The King abode half the dayexpecting their return;but they returned not. Sowhen he despaired of themhe returned to the city with his troopsrepenting him greatly of that which he had done and grieving sore for the loss of the damsel. He shut himself up in his palacemourning and afflicted;but his Viziers came in to him and applied themselves to comfort him,saying'Verilyhe who took the damsel is an enchanterand praised be God who hath delivered thee from his craft and sorcery!'And they ceased not from himtill he was comforted for her loss.

Meanwhilethe prince bent his coursein joy and cheer,towards his father's capital and stayed nottill he alighted on his own palacewhere he set the princess in safety;after which he went in to his father and mother and acquainted them with her comingwhereat they rejoiced exceedingly. Then he made great banquets to the townsfolk and they held high festival a whole monthat the end of which time he went in to the princess and they rejoiced in one another with an exceeding joy. But his father broke the horse in pieces and destroyed its works. Moreoverthe prince wrote a letter to the princess's fatheradvising him of all that had befallen her and how she was now married to him and in all health and happinessand sent it by a messengertogether with costly presents and rarities. The messengerin due coursearrived at the city of Senaa and delivered the letter and the presents to the King,whowhen he read the formerrejoiced greatly and accepted the presentsrewarding the bearer handsomely. Moreoverhe sent rich presents to his son-in-law by the same messengerwho returned to his master and acquainted him with what had passed,whereat he was much cheered. And after this the prince wrote a letter every year to his father-in-law and sent him a present,tillin course of timehis father King Sabour died and he reigned in his steadruling justly over his subjects and ordering himself well and righteously towards themso that they submitted themselves to him and did him loyal service;and he and his wife abode in the enjoyment of all delight and solace of lifetill there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of CompaniesHe that layeth waste the palaces and peopleth the tombs;and glory be to the Living One who dieth not and in whose hand is the dominion of the Seen and the Unseen!