to the august, God-aided Sultan, greeting.  Thy letter hath reached us and we rejoiced therein and have sent thee the book [called] “The Divan of Hearts and the Garden of Wits,” of the translation whereof when thou hast taken cognizance, its excellence will be established in thine eyes; and the superscription of this book we have made unto thee.  Moreover, we send thee divers other kingly presents;[FN#219] so do thou favour us by accepting them, and peace be on thee!’

When the king had read this letter, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and bestowed on me great store of presents and entreated me with the utmost honour.  Some days after this, I sought of him leave to depart, but he granted it not to me save after much pressing.  So I took leave of him and shipped with divers merchants and others, intending for my own country and having no desire for travel or traffic.  We sailed on, without ceasing, till we had passed many islands; but, one day, as we fared on over a certain tract of the sea, there came forth upon us a multitude of boats full of men like devils, clad in chain-mail and armed with swords and daggers and bows and arrows, and surrounded us on every side.  They entreated us after the cruellest fashion, smiting and wounding and slaying those who made head against them, and taking the ship, with the crew and all that were therein, carried us to an island, where they sold us all for a low price.  A rich man bought me and taking me into his house, gave me to eat and drink and clothed me and entreated me kindly, till my heart was comforted and I was somewhat restored.

One day my master said to me, ‘Knowest thou not some art or handicraft?’ And I answered, saying, ‘O my lord, I am a merchant and know nought but traffic.’  Quoth he, ’Knowest thou how to shoot with a bow and arrows?’ And I replied, ‘Yes, I know that.’  So he brought me a bow and arrows and mounting me behind him on an elephant, set out with me, at the last of the night, and fared on till we came to a forest of great trees; whereupon he made me climb a high and stout tree and giving me the bow and arrows, said to me, ’Sit here, and when the elephants come hither by day, shoot at them, so haply thou shalt hit one of them; and if any of them fall, come at nightfall and tell me.’  Then he went away and left me trembling and fearful.  I abode hidden in the tree till the sun rose, when the elephants came out and fared hither and thither among the trees, and I gave not over shooting at them with arrows, till I brought down one of them.  So, at eventide, I went and told my master, who rejoiced in me and rewarded me; then he came and carried away the dead elephant.