Notwithstanding all their endeavours and their courage, they could not get to the top that day.  Night came on, and prince Assad was so much fatigued, that he stopped, and said to prince Amgrad, I can go no further; I am ready to die.  Stay as long as you will, replied prince Amgrad; let us rest ourselves, and have a good heart; it is but a little way to the top, and the moon befriends us.

They rested about half an hour, when Assad having attained more strength, proceeded on their way to the mountain’s summit, where they at last arrived, and lay down.  Amgrad rose first, and, advancing, saw a tree at a little distance:  he went to it, and found it was a pomegranate-tree, with large fruit upon it, and a fountain near the foot.  He ran to his brother Assad to tell him the good news, and conducted him to the tree which grew by the side of the fountain.  They both refreshed themselves there by eating each a pomegranate; after which they fell asleep.

Next morning, when they awoke, Come, brother, said Amgrad to Assad, let us go on; I see the mountain is easier to be travelled over on this side than the other; all our way now is down hill.  But Assad was so fatigued with the last day’s journey, that he wanted three or four days’ repose to recruit his strength.

They spent them, as they had done many before, in discoursing on their mother’s inordinate desires, and deploring their misfortunes.  But, said they, since Heaven has so visibly declared itself in our favour, we ought to bear them with patience, and comfort ourselves with hopes that we shall soon see an end of them.

At the end of three days’ rest, the two brothers continued their travels, and were five days in descending the hill before they came into the valley.  Then they discovered a great city, at which they were very joyful:  Brother, said Amgrad to Assad, are not you of my opinion, which is, that you should stay in some place out of the city, where I may come to you again, while I go to learn the language, and inform myself of the name of the city, and in what country we are? and when I come back, I will bring provisions with me.  It is not convenient for us to go there together; there may be danger in it; and so much notice will not be taken of one stranger as of two.

Brother, replied Assad, I approve of what you say; it is prudent; but if one of us must part from the other on that account, I cannot suffer that it shall be you; allow me to go; for what a trouble will it be to me if any ill accident should happen to you!

Ah! but, brother, answered Amgrad, the same ill accident you fear for me, I am as much afraid of for you.  Pray let me go; and do you stay here with patience.—­I will never yield to it, said Assad:  if any ill should happen to me, it will be some comfort to think that you are safe.  Amgrad was forced to submit; and Assad, going towards the city, stopped in a grove at the foot of the mountain.