and called to the page, saying, “Come forth and fear not; no harm shall befal thee.”  So he came out, trembling for fear, and the husband said, “Be of good cheer:  none shall I hurt thee;” condoling with him on what had befallen him; whilst the page called down blessings on his head.  Then they both went forth, nor was that Cornuto nor was the page aware of that which the woman had contrived.  “This, then, O King,” said the Wazir, “is one of the tricks of women; so beware lest thou rely upon their I words.”  The King was persuaded and turned from putting his son to death; but, on the third day, the favourite came in to him I and, kissing the ground before him, cried, “O King, do me justice on thy son and be not turned from thy purpose by thy Ministers’ prate, for there is no good in wicked Wazirs, and be not as the King of Baghdad, who relied on the word of a certain wicked counsellor of his.”  Quoth he, “And how was that?” Quoth she, “There hath been told me, O auspicious and well-advised King, a tale of

The Kings Son and the Ogress.[FN#171]

A certain King had a son, whom he loved and favoured with exceeding favour, over all his other children; and this son said to him one day, “O my father, I have a mind to fare a-coursing and a-hunting.”  So the King bade furnish him and commanded one of his Wazirs to bear him company and do all the service he needed during his trip.  The Minister accordingly took everything that was necessary for the journey and they set out with a retinue of eunuchs and officers and pages, and rode on, sporting as they went, till they came to a green and well-grassed champaign abounding in pasture and water and game.  Here the Prince turned to the Minister and told him that the place pleased him and he purposed to halt there.  So they set down in that site and they loosed the falcons and lynxes and dogs and caught great plenty of game, whereat they rejoiced and abode there some days, in all joyance of life and its delight.  Then the King’s son gave the signal for departure; but, as they went along, a beautiful gazelle, as if the sun rose shining from between her horns, that had strayed from her mate, sprang up before the Prince, whereupon his soul longed to make prize of her and he coveted her.  So he said to the Wazir, “I have a mind to follow that gazelle;” and the Minister replied, “Do what seemeth good to thee.”  Thereupon the Prince rode single-handed after the gazelle, till he lost sight of his companions, and chased her all that day till dusk, when she took refuge in a bit of rocky ground[FN#172] and darkness closed in upon him.  Then he would have turned back, but knew not the way; whereat he was sore concerned and said, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!” He sat his mare all night till morning dawned, in quest of relief, but found none; and, when the day appeared, he fared on at hazard fearful, famished, thirsty, and knowing not whither to wend till it was noon and