Scheich Ibrahim, no longer doubting that it was the caliph, immediately threw himself at his feet, with his face and long beard to the ground.  “Commander of the true believers,” cried he, “your vile slave has offended you; but he implores your clemency, and asks a thousand pardons for his offence.”  As soon as the slaves had finished dressing him, he came down from his throne, and advancing towards him, “Rise,” said he, “I forgive thee.”

The caliph then addressed himself to the fair Persian, who had suspended her sorrow as soon as she understood that the garden and pavilion belonged to that prince, and not to Scheich Ibrahim, as he had all along made her believe, and that it was he himself disguised in the fisherman’s clothes.  “Fair Persian,” said he, “rise, and follow me:  by what you have lately seen, you ought to know who I am, and to believe that I am above taking any advantage of the present which Noor ad Deen, with a generosity not to be paralleled, has made me of your person.  I have sent him to Bussorah as king; and when I have given him the dispatches necessary for his establishment, you shall go thither and be queen.  In the mean time I am going to order an apartment for you in my palace, where you shall be treated according to your desert.”

This discourse encouraged the fair Persian, and comforted her very sensibly.  The joy for the advancement of Noor ad Deen, whom she passionately loved, to so high an honour, made her sufficient amends for her affliction.  The caliph kept his promise, and recommended her to the care of his empress Zobeide, whom he acquainted with the esteem he had entertained for Noor ad Deen.

Noor ad Deen’s return to Bussorah was more fortunate, and speedier by some days than he could have expected.  Upon his arrival, without visiting any of his friends or relations he went directly to the palace, where the king at that time was giving public audience.  With the letter held up in his hand, he pressed through the crowd, who presently made way for him to come forward and deliver it.  The king took and opened it, and his colour changed in reading it; he kissed it thrice, and was just about to obey the caliph’s orders, when he bethought himself of strewing it to the vizier Saony, Noor ad Deen’s irreconcileable enemy.

Saouy, who had discovered Noor ad Deen, and began to conjecture, with great uneasiness, what might be the design of his coming, was no less surprised than the king at the order contained in the letter; and being as much concerned in it, he instantly devised a method to evade it.  He pretended not to have read the letter quite through, and therefore desiring a second view of it, turned himself a little on one side as if he wanted a better light, and, without being perceived by any body, dexterously tore off from the top of it the form which shewed the caliph would be absolutely obeyed, and putting it into his mouth, swallowed it.