Camaralzaman was sensibly touched at emir Giendar’s relation, and, putting his hand into prince Amgrad’s pocket, he found an open billet.  He no sooner knew that queen Haiatalnefous wrote it, as well by a lock of her hair which was in it, as by her handwriting, than he froze with horror.  He then, trembling, put his hand into the pocket of Assad, and, finding there likewise queen Badoura’s billet, his surprise was so great and so lively that he swooned away.

Never did man grieve like Camaralzaman when he was recovered from swooning.  Barbarous father as thou art! cried he, what hast thou done?  Thou hast murdered thy own children, thy innocent children!  Did not their wisdom, their modesty, their obedience, their submission to thy will in all things, their virtue; did not these all plead in their behalf—­Blind and insensible father! dost thou deserve to live after the execrable crime which thou hast committed?  I have brought this abomination on my own head, and Heaven chastises me for not persevering in the aversion to women with which I was born.  And, oh ye detestable wives!  I will not—­no, I will not, as ye deserve—­wash off the guilt of your sins with your blood; ye are unworthy of my rage; but perdition seize me if ever I see you more!

King Camaralzaman was a man of too much religion to break his vow.  He commanded the two queens to be lodged in separate apartments that very day, where they were kept under strong guards, and never afterwards saw them.

While the king of the isle of Ebene afflicted himself for the loss of the princes his sons, of which he thought he had been the author by too rashly condemning them, the royal youths wandered through deserts, endeavouring to avoid all places that were inhabited, and the sight of any human creature.  They lived on herbs and wild fruits, and drank only stinking rainwater, which they found in the crevices of the rocks.  They slept and watched by turns at night, for fear of wild beasts.

When they had travelled about a month, they came to the foot of a high mountain inaccessible for its cragginess; the stones being black, and so rugged, that it was impossible to ascend over them to the summit of the hill.  At last, they discovered a kind of path; but it was so narrow and difficult, they durst not venture up it.  This obliged them to go along by the foot of the mountain, in hopes of finding a more easy way to reach the top.  They went round it five days, but could see nothing like a path; so they were obliged to return to that which they had neglected.  They still thought it would be in vain to attempt going up by it.  They deliberated on what they should do for a long time; and at last, encouraging one another, resolved to ascend the hill.

The more they advanced, they thought it was the higher and steeper, which made them think several times of giving up the enterprise.  When one was weary, the other stopped, and both rested together.  Sometimes they were both so tired, that they wanted strength to go further; then, despairing of being able to reach the top, they thought they must lie down, and die of fatigue and weariness.  When they found they had recovered a little strength, they would animate each other, and go on.