to be taken up and set down upon other site will, in the twinkling of an eye, be borne thither, be that place nearhand or distant many a day’s journey and difficult to reach."[FN#319] The Prince hearing these words said to himself, “Naught so wonder-rare as this rug can I carry back to the Sultan my sire to my gift, or any that afford him higher satisfaction and delight.  Almighty Allah be praised, the aim of my wayLare is attained and hereby, Inshallah!  I shall win to my wish.  This, if anything, will be to him a joy for ever.”  Wherefore the Prince, with intent to buy the Flying Carpet, turned to the broker and said, If indeed it have properties such as thou describest, verily the price thou askest therefor is not over much, and I am ready to pay thee the sum required.”  The other rejoined, “An thou doubt my words I pray thee put them to the test and by such proof remove thy suspicions.  Sit now upon this square of tapestry, and at thy mere wish and will it shall transport us to the caravanserai wherein thou abidest:  on this wise shalt thou be certified of my words being sooth, and when assured of their truth thou mayest count out to me, there and then, but not before, the value of my wares.”  Accordingly, the man spread out the carpet upon the ground behind his shop and seated the Prince thereupon, he sitting by his side.  Then, at the mere will[FN#320] and wish of Prince Husayn, the twain were at once transported as though borne by the throne of Solomon to the Khan.  So the eldest of the brothers joyed with exceeding joy to think that he had won so rare a thing, whose like could nowhere be found in the lands nor amongst the Kings; and his heart and soul were gladdened for that he had come to Bishangarh and hit upon such a prodigy.  Accordingly he counted out the forty thousand Ashrafis as payment for the carpet, and gave, moreover, another twenty thousand by way of sweetmeat to the broker.  Furthermore, he ceased not saying to himself that the King on seeing it would forthright wed him to the Princess Nur al-Nihar; for it were clear impossible that either of his brothers, e’en though they searched the whole world over and over, could find a rarity to compare with this.  He longed to take seat upon the carpet that very instant and fly to his own country, or, at least, to await his brothers at the caravanserai where they had parted under promise and covenant, pledged and concluded, to meet again at the year’s end.  But presently he bethought him that the delay would be long and longsome, and much he feared lest he be tempted to take some rash step; wherefore he resolved upon sojourning in the country whose King and subjects he had ardently desired to behold for many a day, and determined that he would pass the time in sight-seeing and in pleasuring over the lands adjoining.  So Prince Husayn tarried in Bishangarh some months.  Now the King of that country was wont to hold a high court once every week for hearing disputes and adjudging causes which concerned