of my mind at that moment! my senses forsook me, and I became quite distracted.  Sometimes I mounted the tree, and looked for her in every individual leaf and branch; sometimes, letting go my hold, I fell on the ground, and went round the roots of the tree as one who performs the tasadduk [191].  Sometimes I wept and shrieked at my miserable condition; now I ran from west to east, then from north to south.  In short, I searched everywhere, [192] but could not find any trace of the rare jewel [I had lost]; when, at last, I found I could do nothing, then weeping and throwing dust over my head, I looked for her everywhere.

This idea came into my mind, that perhaps some of the jinns had carried her away, and had inflicted on me this wound; or else that some one had followed her from her country, and finding her alone, had persuaded her to return to Damascus.  Distracted with these fancies, I threw off and cast away my clothes, and becoming a naked fakir, I wandered about in the kingdom of Syria from morn until eve, and at night lay down to rest in any place [I could find].  I wandered over the whole region, but could find no trace of my princess, nor hear any thing of her from any one, nor could I ascertain the cause of her disappearance.  Then this idea came into my mind, that since I could find no trace of that beloved one, even life itself was a weariness.  I perceived a mountain in some wilderness; I ascended it, and formed the design of throwing myself headlong [from its summit], that I might end my wretched existence in a moment, by dashing my head to pieces against the stones, then would my soul be freed from a state of affliction.

Having formed this resolution within myself, I was on the point of precipitating myself [from the mountain], and had even lifted up my foot, when some one laid hold of my arm.  In the meanwhile, I regained my senses, and looking round, I saw a horseman clothed in green, with a veil thrown over his face, who said to me, “Why dost thou attempt to destroy thy life; it is impious to despair of God’s mercy; whilst there is breath, so long there is hope.  Three Darweshes will meet thee a few days hence, in the empire of Rum, who are equally afflicted with thyself, entangled in the same difficulties, and who have met with adventures similar to thine; the name of the king of that country is Azad Bakht; he is also in great trouble; when he meets you and the other three Darweshes, then the wishes and desires of the heart of each of you will be completely fulfilled.”

I instantly laid hold of the stirrup [of this guardian angel,] and kissed it, and exclaimed, “O messenger of God, the few words you have pronounced have consoled my afflicted heart; but tell me, for God’s sake, who you are, and what is your name.”  He replied, “My name is Murtaza ’Ali, [193] and my office is this, that to whomsoever there occurs a danger or difficulty, I am at hand to afford