The king’s son who fell in love with the
picture.

There was once, in a province of Persia, a king of the kings, who was mighty of estate, endowed with majesty and venerance and having troops and guards at his command; but he was childless.  Towards the end of his life, his Lord vouchsafed him a male child, and the boy grew up and was comely and learned all manner of knowledge.  He made him a private place, to wit, a lofty palace, builded with coloured marbles and [adorned with] jewels and paintings.  When the prince entered the palace, he saw in its ceiling the picture [of a woman], than whom he had never beheld a fairer of aspect, and she was compassed about with slave-girls; whereupon he fell down in a swoon and became distraught for love of her.  Then he sat under the picture, till, one day, his father came in to him and finding him wasted of body and changed of colour, by reason of his [continual] looking on that picture, thought that he was ill and sent for the sages and physicians, that they might medicine him.  Moreover, he said to one of his boon- companions, ’If thou canst learn what aileth my son, thou shalt have of me largesse.’  So the courtier went in to the prince and spoke him fair and cajoled him, till he confessed to him that his malady was caused by the picture.  Then he returned to the king and told him what ailed his son, whereupon he transported the prince to another palace and made his former lodging the guest-house; and whosoever of the Arabs was entertained therein, he questioned of the picture, but none could give him tidings thereof.

One day, there came a traveller and seeing the picture, said, ‘There is no god but God!  My brother wrought this picture.’  So the king sent for him and questioned him of the affair of the picture and where was he who had wrought it.  ‘O my lord,’ answered the traveller, ’we are two brothers and one of us went to the land of Hind and fell in love with the king’s daughter of the country, and it is she who is the original of the portrait.  In every city he entereth, he painteth her portrait, and I follow him, and long is my journey.’  When the king’s son heard this, he said,’Needs must I travel to this damsel.’  So he took all manner rarities and store of riches and journeyed days and nights till he entered the land of Hind, nor did he win thereto save after sore travail.  Then he enquired of the King of Hind and he also heard of him.

When the prince came before him, he sought of him his daughter in marriage, and the king said, ’Indeed, thou art her equal, but none dare name a man to her, because of her aversion to men.’  So the prince pitched his tents under the windows of the princess’s palace, till one day he got hold of one of her favourite slave-girls and gave her wealth galore.  Quoth she to him, ’Hast thou a wish?’ ‘Yes,’ answered he and acquainted her with his case; and she said, ‘Indeed thou puttest thyself in peril.’