The pretended princess appeared that very moment, and perceiving she had missed her prey, exclaimed, “Fear nothing, prince:  Who are you?  Whom do you seek?” “I have lost my way,” replied he, “and am endeavouring to find it.”  “If you have lost your way,” said she, “recommend yourself to God, he will deliver you out of your perplexity.”

After the counterfeit Indian princess had bidden the young prince recommend himself to God, he could not believe she spoke sincerely, but thought herself sure of him; and therefore lifting up his hands to heaven, said, “Almighty Lord, cast shine eyes upon me, and deliver me from this enemy.”  After this prayer, the ghole entered the ruins again, and the prince rode off with all possible haste.  He happily found his way, and arrived safe at the court of his father, 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 immediately strangled.

“Sir,” continued 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 medicine he has given you, may in time have pernicious effects?”

The Grecian king 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,” said he, “thou art in the right; he may be come on purpose to take away my life, which he may easily do by the smell of his drugs.”

When the vizier found the king in such a temper as he wished, “Sir,” said 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 struck off.”  “In truth,” said the king, “I believe that is the way we must take to frustrate 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 purpose, came to the palace in haste.

“Knowest thou,” said the king, when he saw him, “why I sent for thee?” “No, Sir,” answered he; “I wait till your majesty be pleased to inform me.”  “I sent for thee,” replied the king, “to rid myself of thee, by taking away thy life.”

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