and saying in himself, “What is the cause of my imprisonment?”; while Sayf al-Muluk’s mind was diverted from him by rejoicing and other things; but one day, as he sat, he bethought him of Sa’id and said to his Mamelukes, “Where is the white slave I gave into your charge on such a day?” Quoth they, “Didst thou not bid us bear him to the bridewell?”; and quoth he, “Nay, I said not so; I bade you carry him to my palace after the ride.”  Then he sent his Chamberlains and Emirs for Sa’id and they fetched him in fetters, and loosing him from his irons set him before the Prince, who asked him, “O young man, what countryman art thou?”; and he answered, “I am from Egypt and my name is Sa’id, son of Faris the Wazir.”  Now hearing these words Sayf al-Muluk sprang to his feet and throwing himself off the throne and upon his friend, hung on his neck, weeping aloud for very joy and saying, “O my brother, O Sa’id, praise be Allah for King Asim.”  Then they embraced and shed tears together and all who were present marvelled at them.  After this Sayf al-Muluk bade his people bear Sa’id to the Hammam-bath:  and they did so.  When he came out, they clad him in costly clothing and carried him back to Sayf al-Muluk who seated him on the throne beside himself.  When King Taj al-Muluk heard of the reunion of Sayf al-Muluk and his brother Sa’id, he joyed with you exceeding and came to them, and the three sat devising of all that had befallen them in the past from first to last.  Then said Sa’id, “O my brother, O Sayf al-Muluk, when the ship sank with all on board I saved myself on a plank with a company of Mamelukes and it drifted with us a whole month, when the wind cast us, by the ordinance of Allah Almighty, upon an island.  So we landed and entering among the trees took to eating of the fruits, for we were anhungred.  Whilst we were busy eating, there fell on us unawares, folk like Ifrits[FN#434] and springing on our shoulders rode us[FN#435] and said to us, ’Go on with us; for ye are become our asses.’  So I said to him who had mounted me, ‘What art thou and why mountest thou me?’ At this he twisted one of his legs about my neck, till I was all but dead, and beat upon my back the while with the other leg, till I thought he had broken my backbone.  So I fell to the ground on my face, having no strength left in me for famine and thirst.  From my fall he knew that I was hungry and taking me by the hand, led me to a tree laden with fruit which was a pear-tree[FN#436] and said to me, ‘Eat thy fill of this tree.’  So I ate till I had enough and rose to walk against my will; but, ere I had fared afar the creature turned and leaping on my shoulders again drove me on, now walking, now running and now trotting, and he the while mounted on me, laughing and saying, ’Never in my life saw I a donkey like unto thee!’ We abode thus for years till, one day of the days, it chanced that we saw there great plenty of vines, covered with ripe fruit; so we gathered a quantity of grape-bunches