Now the children had entered the coppice, to make water, and there was there a forest of trees, wherein, if a horseman entered, he might wander by the week, [before finding his way out], for none knew the first thereof from the last.  So the boys entered therein and knew not how they should return and went astray in that wood, to an end that was willed of God the Most High, whilst their father sought them, but found them not.  So he returned to their mother and they abode weeping for their children.  As for these latter, when they entered the wood, it swallowed them up and they went wandering in it many days, knowing not where they had entered, till they came forth, at another side, upon the open country.

Meanwhile, the king and queen abode in the island, over against the old man and woman, and ate of the fruits that were in the island and drank of its waters, till, one day, as they sat, there came a ship and moored to the side of the island, to fill up with water, whereupon they[FN#63] looked at each other and spoke.  The master of the ship was a Magian and all that was therein, both men and goods, belonged to him, for that he was a merchant and went round about the world.  Now covetise deluded the old man, the owner of the island, and he went up [into the ship] and gave the Magian news of the king’s wife, setting out to him her charms, till he made him yearn unto her and his soul prompted him to use treachery and practise upon her and take her from her hnsband.  So he sent to her, saying, ’With us in the ship is a woman with child, and we fear lest she be delivered this night.  Hast thou skill in the delivering of women?’ And she answered, ‘Yes.’  Now it was the last of the day; so he sent to her to come up into the ship and deliver the woman, for that the pangs of labour were come upon her; and he promised her clothes and spending-money.  Accordingly, she embarked in all assurance, with a heart at ease for herself, and transported her gear to the ship; but no sooner was she come thither than the anchors were weighed and the canvas spread and the ship set sail.

When the king saw this, he cried out and his wife wept in the ship and offered to cast herself into the sea; but the Magian bade the sailors lay hands on her.  So they seized her and it was but a little while ere the night darkened and the ship disappeared from the king’s eyes; whereupon he swooned away for excess of weeping and lamentation and passed his night bewailing his wife and children.

When the morning morrowed, he recited the following verses: 

How long, O Fate, wilt thou oppress and baffle me? 
Tell me, was ever yet a mortal spared of thee? 
     Behold, my loved ones all are ta’en from me away. 
They left me and content forthright forsook my heart,
Upon that day my loves my presence did depart;
     My pleasant life for loss of friends is troubled aye. 
By Allah, I knew not their worth nor yet how dear