her history, to that city and acquainted the king with the manner of her meeting her husband.  When she had made an end of her adventure, the Kitchener exclaimed, “Alack, what befals us from lying rascals.  By Allah, O king, this woman lieth against me, for this youth is my rearling[FN#550] and he was born of one of my slave-girls.  He fled from me and I found him again.”  When the Queen heard the last of the talk, she said to the Cook, “The decree between you shall not be save in accordance with justice.”  Then she dismissed all those who were present and turning to her brother, said to him, “Indeed thy truth is stablished with me and the sooth of thy speech, and praised be Allah who hath brought about reunion between thee and thy wife!  So now begone with her to thy country and cease to seek thy sister Salma and depart in peace.”  But, hearing this, Salim replied, “By Allah, by the might of the All-knowing King, I will not turn back from seeking my sister till I die or I find her, Inshallah!” Then he called his sister to mind and improvised from a heart disappointed, troubled, afflicted these couplets,

“O thou who blam’st me for my heart, in anger twitting me, *
     Hadst tasted what my heart did taste, thou wouldst be
     pitying me! 
By Allah, O my chider for my sister leave, ah! leave * My heart
     to moan its grief and feel the woes befitting me. 
Indeed I grew to hold her dear privily, publicly; * And in my
     bosom bides a pang at no time quitting me;
And in my vitals burns a flame that ne’er was equalled by * The
     fire of hell and blazeth high to Death committing me.”

Now when his sister Salma heard what he said, she could no longer restrain her soul, but threw herself upon him and discovered to him her case.  When he knew her, he threw himself upon her swooning awhile; after which he came to himself and cried, “Lauded be the Lord, the Bountiful, the Beneficent!” Then they plained each to other of that they had suffered from the pangs of parting, whilst Salim’s wife wondered at this and Salma’s patience and endurance pleased her.  So she saluted her with the Salam, and thanked her for her fair boons, saying, “By Allah, O my lady, all that we are in of gladness never befel us save by thy blessing; so praised be Allah who deigned vouchsafe us thy sight!” Then they tarried all three, Salma, Salim and his wife, in joy and happiness and delight three days, veiled from the folk; and it was bruited abroad in the city that the king had found his brother, who was lost for many a year, and had saved him from the Cook’s house.  On the fourth day, all the troops and the lieges assembled together to see the King and standing at his gate, craved leave to enter.  Salma bade admit them; so they entered and paid her royal suit and service and gave her joy of her brother’s safe return.  She bade them do homage to Salim, and they consented and sware fealty to him; after which they kept silence