that my name might not perish, and every one should call him khwaja-zada; [358] but now my imaginations have proved vain, and the affair has turned out quite the contrary.  He, by becoming a woman, has ruined the old man.  I fell into female snares, and now the saying may be applied to me, ’Thou remainedst at home, and didst not go to pilgrimage; yet thy head was shaved, and thou art scoffed by all.’” [359]

To shorten my story, I took pity on agitation, and groans and lamentations, and called him near me, and whispered in his ear some glad tidings, and added, “do not grieve; I will marry thee to her, and, if God pleaseth, thou shalt have children from her, and she shall [now] be thy master.”  On hearing these welcome words, he became altogether comforted.  I then ordered them to conduct the wazirzadi to the seraglio, and to take the wazir out of prison, bathe him in the bath, dress him in the khil’at of restoration to favour, [360] and bring him quickly before me.  When the wazir arrived, I went to the end of the farsh [361] to receive him, and conceiving him my superior, I embraced him, and bestowed on him anew the writing case of the wazirship. [362] I conferred also titles jagirs on the khwaja, and fixing on a happy hour, I married him to the wazir’s daughter.

In a few years, he had two sons and a daughter born to him.  In short, the eldest son is now Malikut-Tujjar, and the youngest, the chief manager of my household.  O Darweshes, I have related these adventures to you for this reason, that last night, I heard the adventures of two of your number; now you two who remain, fancy to yourselves that I am still where I was last night, and think me your servant, and my house your takiya; [363] relate your adventures without fear and stay some days with me.  When the Darweshes perceived that the king was very kind to them, they said, “Well, as your majesty condescends to form amity with Darweshes, we both will also relate our adventures:  be pleased to hear them.”

ADVENTURES OF THE THIRD DARWESH.

The third Darwesh, having sat down at his ease, [364] began thus to relate the events of his travels.

    “O friends, the story of this pilgrim hear;
    That’s to say, hear the tale of what has happened to me;
    How the king of love hath behaved to me,
    I am going to relate it in full detail, O, hear.”

This humble being is the prince of Persia; my father was king of that country, and had no children except myself.  In the season of my youth, I used to play with my companions at chaupar [365] cards, chess, and backgammon; or mounting my horse, I used to enjoy the pleasures of the chase.  It happened one day, that I ordered my hunting party, and taking all my friends and companions with me, we sallied forth over the plains.  Letting loose the hawks [of