The slave, perplexed and half dead, said within himself, “The prince must have lost his senses through grief, and I shall not escape if I do not tell him a falsehood.  My lord,” cried he, in a suppliant tone, “I beseech your highness to spare my life, and I will tell you the truth.”

The prince drew the slave up, and pressed him to tell him.  As soon as he was out of the well, “My lord,” said he, trembling, “your highness must perceive it is impossible for me to satisfy you in my present condition; I beg you to give me leave first to go and change my clothes.”  “I permit you, but do it quickly,” said the prince; “and be sure you conceal nothing.”

The slave went out, and having locked the door upon the prince, ran to the palace just as he was.  The king was at that time in discourse with his prime vizier, to whom he had just related the grief in which he had passed the night on account of his son’s disobedience and opposition to his will.

The minister endeavoured to comfort his master, by telling him, the prince himself had given him cause for his severity.  “Sir,” said he, “your majesty need not repent of having treated your son in this manner.  Have but patience to let him continue a while in prison, and assure yourself his heat will abate, and he will submit to all you require.”

The grand vizier had but just done speaking when the slave came in, and cast himself at the feet of the sovereign.  “My lord,” said he, “I am sorry to be the messenger of ill news to your majesty, which I know must occasion you fresh affliction.  The prince is distracted; he raves of a lady having lain with him all night, and his treatment of me, as you may see, too plainly proves the state of his mind.”  Then he proceeded to relate the particulars of what the prince had said, and the violence with which he had been treated.

The king, who did not expect to hear any thing of this afflicting kind, said to the prime minister, “This is a melancholy turn, very different from the hopes you gave me:  go immediately and examine the condition of my son.”

The grand vizier obeyed; and coming into the prince’s chamber, found him sitting on his bed with a book in his hand, which he was reading.

After mutual salutations, the vizier said, “My lord, I wish that a slave of yours were punished for coming to alarm the king your father by news that he has brought him.”

“What is it,” demanded the prince, “that could give my father so much uneasiness?”

“Prince,” answered the vizier, “God forbid that the intelligence he has conveyed to your father concerning you should be true; indeed, I find it to be false, by the calm temper in which I observe you, and which I pray you to continue.”

“It may be,” replied the prince, “he did not make himself well understood; but since you are come, who ought to know something of the matter, permit me to ask you who that lady was that lay with me last night?”