After the counterfeit Indian princess had bid the young prince recommend himself to God, he could not believe she spoke sincerely, but thought she was sure of him, and therefore lifting up his hands to Heaven, said, Almighty Lord, cast thine eyes upon me, and deliver me from this enemy.  After this prayer, the hogress entered the ruins again, and the prince rode off with all possible haste.  He happily found his way again, and arrived safe and sound at his father’s court, to whom he gave a particular account of the danger he had been in through the vizier’s neglect; upon which the king, being incensed against that minister, ordered him to be strangled that very moment.

Sir, continues the Grecian king’s vizier, to return to the physician Douban, if you do not take care, the confidence you put in him will be fatal to you:  I am very well assured that he is a spy sent by your enemies to attempt your majesty’s life.  He has cured you, you will say:  But, alas! who can assure you of that?  He has perhaps cured you only in appearance, and not radically; who knows but the medicines he has given you may in time have pernicious effects?

The Grecian king, who had naturally very little sense, was not able to discover the wicked design of his vizier, nor had he firmness enough to persist in his first opinion.  This discourse staggered him:  Vizier, says he, thou art in the right; he may be come on purpose to take away my life, which he may easily do by the very smell of some of his drugs.  We must consider what is fit for us to do in this case.

When the vizier found the king in such a temper as he would have him, Sir, says he, the surest and speediest method you can take to secure your life, is to send immediately for the physician Douban, and order his head to be cut off as soon as he comes.  In truth, says the king, I believe that is the way we must take to prevent his design.  When he had spoken thus, he called for one of his officers, and ordered him to go for the physician; who, knowing nothing of the king’s design, came to the palace in haste.

Know ye, says the king, when he saw him, why I sent for you?  No, Sir, answered he; I wait till your majesty be pleased to inform me.  I sent for you, replied the king, to rid myself of you by taking your life.

No man can express the surprise of the physician, when he heard the sentence of death pronounced against him.  Sir, says he, why would your majesty take away my life?  What crime have I committed?  I am informed by good hands, replies the king, that you come to my court only to attempt my life; but, to prevent you, I will be sure of yours.  Give the blow, says he to the executioner, who was present, and deliver me from a perfidious wretch, who came hither on purpose to assassinate me.