The end of the Six Hundred and Fifty-first Night.

Then said she:—­I have heard, O auspicious King, that Prince Ahmad went searching for his shaft over hill and dale when, after covering some three parasangs, suddenly he espied it lying flat upon a rock.[FN#331] Hereat he marvelled greatly, wondering how the arrow had flown so far, but even more so when he went up to it and saw that it had not stuck in the ground but appeared to have rebounded and to have fallen flat upon a slab of stone.  Quoth he to himself, “There must assuredly be some mystery in this matter:  else how could anyone shoot a shaft to such a distance and find it fallen after so strange a fashion.”  Then, threading his way amongst the pointed crags and huge boulders, he presently came to a hollow in the ground which ended in a subterraneous passage, and after pacing a few paces he espied an iron door.  He pushed this open with all ease, for that it had no bolt, and entering, arrow in hand, he came upon an easy slope by which he descended.  But whereas he feared to find all pitch-dark, he discovered at some distance a spacious square, a widening of the cave, which was lighted on every side with lamps and candelabra.  Then advancing some fifty cubits or more his glance fell upon a vast and handsome palace, and presently there issued from within to the portico a lovely maiden lovesome and lovable, a fairy-form robed in princely robes and adorned from front to foot with the costliest of jewels.  She walked with slow and stately gait, withal graceful and blandishing, whilst around her ranged her attendants like the stars about a moon of the fourteenth night.  Seeing this vision of beauty, Prince Ahmad hastened to salute her with the salam and she returned it; then coming forwards greeted him graciously and said in sweetest accents, “Well come and welcome, O Prince Ahmad:  I am pleased to have sight of thee.  How fareth it with thy Highness and why hast thou tarried so long away from me?” The King’s son marvelled greatly to hear her name him by his name; for that he knew not who she was, as they had never seen each other aforetime—­how then came she to have learnt his title and condition?  Then kissing ground before her he said, “O my lady, I owe thee much of thanks and gratitude for that thou art pleased to welcome me with words of cheer in this strange place where I, alone and a stranger, durst enter with exceeding hesitation and trepidation.  But it perplexeth me sorely to think how thou camest to learn the name of thy slave.”  Quoth she with a smile, “O my lord, come hither and let us sit at ease within yon belvedere; and there I will give an answer to thine asking.”  So they went thither, Prince Ahmad following her footsteps; and on reaching it he was filled with wonder to see its vaulted roof of exquisite workmanship and adorned with gold and lapis lazuli[FN#332] and paintings and ornaments, whose like was nowhere to be found in the world.  The lady seeing his astonishment said to