When night was over, and the dawn began to appear, we arrived on the banks of a certain lake; alighting from our horses, we washed our hands and faces; having breakfasted in great haste, we mounted again and set off.  Now and then the princess spoke, and said, “I have for your sake left fame, honour, wealth, country and parents all behind me; now, may it not so happen, that you also should behave to me like that faithless savage.”  Sometimes I talked of different matters to beguile the journey, and sometimes replied to her questions and doubts, saying “O princess, all men are not alike; there must have been some defect in that base villain’s parentage, that by him such a deed was done; but I have sacrificed my wealth and devoted my life to you, and you have dignified me in every way.  I am now your slave without purchase, and if you should make shoes of my skin and wear them, I will not complain.”  Such conversation passed between us, and day and night to travel onward was our business.  If through fatigue we sometimes dismounted somewhere, we then used to hunt down the beasts and birds of the woods, and having lawfully slain them, and applied salt from the salt-cellar, and having struck fire with steel [188] (from a flint), we used to broil and eat them.  The horses we let loose [to graze], and they generally found sufficient to satisfy their hunger from the grass and leaves.

One day we reached a large even plain, where there was no trace of any habitation, and where no human face could be seen; even in this [solitary and dreary scene], owing to the princess’s company, the day appeared festive and the nights joyful.  Proceeding on our journey, we came suddenly to a large river, the sight of which would appal the firmest heart. [189] As we stood on its banks, as far as the eye could reach, nothing was to be seen but water; no means of crossing was to be found.  O God [cried I], how shall we pass this sea! we stood reflecting on this sad obstacle for a few moments, when the thought came into my mind to leave the princess there, and to go in search of a boat; and that until I could find some means to pass over, the princess would have time to rest.  Having formed this plan, I said, “O princess, if you will allow me, I will go and look out for a ferry or ford.”  She replied, “I am greatly tired, and likewise hungry and thirsty; I will rest here a little, whilst thou findest out some means to pass over [the river].”

On that spot was a large pipal [190] tree, forming a canopy [of such extent], that if a thousand horsemen sheltered themselves under its wide-spread branches, they would be protected from the sun and rain.  Leaving there the princess, I set out, and was looking all around to find somewhere or other on the ground, or the river, some trace of a human being.  I searched much, but found the same nowhere.  At last, I returned hopeless, but did not find the princess under the tree; how can I describe the state