“If you are the son of the King, go and see your mother in the other world.”

He regained his palace in tears.

“What is the matter with you,” asked his wife, “you whom destiny has given me?”

He answered her:  “My father told me, ’Go and see your mother in the other world.’”

“Return to your father,” she replied, “and ask him for the book of the grandmother of your grandmother.”

He returned to his father, who gave him the book.  He brought it to his wife, who said to him, “Lay it on the grave of your mother.”  He placed it there and the grave opened.  He descended and found a man who was licking the earth.  He saw another who was eating mildew.  And he saw a third who was eating meat.

“Why do you eat meat?” he asked him.

“Because I did good on earth,” responded the shade.  “Where shall I find my mother?” asked the prince.

The shade said, “She is down there.”

He went to his mother, who asked him why he came to seek her.

He replied, “My father sent me.”

“Return,” said the mother, “and say to your father to lift up the beam which is on the hearth.”  The prince went to his father.  “My mother bids you take up the beam which is above the hearth.”  The King raised it and found a treasure.

“If you are the son of the King,” he added, “bring me someone a foot high whose beard measures two feet.”  The prince began to weep.

“Why do you weep,” asked his wife, “you whom destiny has given me?”

The prince answered her, “My father said to me, ’Bring me someone a foot high whose beard measures two feet.”

“Return to your father,” she replied, “and ask him for the book of the grandfather of your grandfather.”

His father gave him the book and the prince brought it to his wife.

“Take it to him again and let him put it in the assembly place, and call a public meeting.”  A man a foot high appeared, took up the book, went around the city, and ate up all the inhabitants.

* * * * *

MAHOMET-BEN-SOLTAN

A certain sultan had a son who rode his horse through the city where his father reigned, and killed everyone he met.  The inhabitants united and promised a flock to him who should make him leave the city.  An old woman took it upon herself to realize the wishes of her fellow-citizens.  She procured some bladders and went to the fountain to fill them with the cup of an acorn.  The old man came to water his horse and said to the old woman: 

“Get out of my way.”

She would not move.  The young man rode his horse over the bladders and burst them.

“If you had married Thithbirth, a cavalier,” cried the old woman, “you would not have done this damage.  But I predict that you will never marry her, for already seventy cavaliers have met death on her account.”