One day, after council, the king of Balsora diverted himself with his two viziers, and some other members of the council.  They fell into discourse about the women-slaves, who with us are daily bought and sold, and are almost reckoned in the same rank with our wives.  Some were of opinion, that it was sufficient the slave were beautiful and well-shaped; others maintained, and amongst the rest Khacan, that neither beauty, nor a thousand other charming perfections of the body, were the only things to be coveted in a mistress; but that she ought to possess, with a great deal of wit, prudence, modesty, and amenity of manners.

The king was entirely of their opinion who spoke last, and quickly gave a demonstration of it, by ordering Khacan to buy him a slave, one that was a perfect beauty, mistress of those qualifications they had just mentioned, and especially very witty.

Saouy, jealous of the honour the king had done Khacan, and vexed at his being of a contrary opinion, said, Sir, it will be very difficult to find a slave so accomplished as to answer your majesty’s demand; and should they light upon such a one, as I scarcely believe they will, she will be a bargain at ten thousand pieces of gold.  Saouy, replied the king, I perceive plainly you think it too great a sum; it may be so for you, though not for me.  Then turning to the chief treasurer, he ordered him to send the ten thousand pieces of gold to the vizier’s house.

Khacan, as soon as he came home, sent for all the courtiers who dealt in women-slaves, and strictly charged them, that if they met with a slave who answered the description he gave, they should acquaint him.  The courtiers, partly to oblige the vizier, and partly for their own interest, promised to use their utmost endeavours to find one to his liking.  Accordingly, seldom a day passed but they brought him one, yet he always found some fault or other with her.

One day, as Khacan was getting on horseback, early in the morning, to go to court, a courtier came to him, and, with a great deal of eagerness, catching hold of the stirrup, told him there was a Persian merchant arrived very late the day before, who had a slave to sell, so surprisingly beautiful, that she excelled all women that his eyes had ever beheld; and, as for parts and learning, added he, the merchant engages she shall cope with the finest wits and the most knowing persons of the age.

Khacan, overjoyed at this news, which made him hope for a favourable reception at court, ordered him to bring the slave to the palace against his coming back, and so pursued his journey.  The courtier did not fail to be at the vizier’s at the appointed hour; and Khacan, finding the lovely slave so much beyond his expectation, immediately gave her the name of the Fair Persian.  As he had an infinite deal of wit and learning, he soon perceived, by her conversation, that it was in vain to search any further for a slave that surpassed her in any of those qualifications required by the king, and therefore he asked the courtier at what rate the Persian merchant valued her.