“I come as a friend,” replied the princess, “and have no cause of complaint against the king of the city of the magicians.  His territories and mine are so situated, that it is almost impossible for us to have any dispute.  I only come to require a slave named Assad, to be delivered up to me.  He was carried away by one Behram, a captain of a ship belonging to this city, the most insolent man in the world.  I hope your king will do me justice, when he knows I am Margiana.”

The prince answered, “Mighty queen, the slave whom you take so much pains to seek is my brother:  I lost him, and have found him again.  Come, and I will deliver him up to you myself; and will do myself the honour to tell you the rest of the story:  the king my master will rejoice to see you.”

The queen ordered her army to pitch their tents, and encamp where they were; and accompanied prince Amgiad to the city and palace, where he presented her to the king; who received her in a manner becoming her dignity.  Assad, who was present, and knew her as soon as he saw her, also paid his respects to her.  She appeared greatly rejoiced to see him.  While they were thus engaged, tidings came, that an army more powerful than the former approached on the other side of the city.

The king of the magicians was more terrified than before, understanding the second army was more numerous than the first, for he saw this by the clouds of dust they raised, which hid the face of the heavens.  “Amgiad,” cried he, “what shall we do now? a new army comes to destroy us.”  Amgiad guessed what the king meant; he mounted on horseback again, and galloped towards the second army.  He demanded of the advanced guards to speak with their general, and they conducted him to their king.  When he drew near him, he alighted, prostrated himself to the ground, and asked what he required of the king his master.

The monarch replied, “I am Gaiour, king of China; my desire to learn tidings of a daughter, whose name is Badoura, whom I married to Kummir al Zummaun, son of Shaw Zummaun, king of the isles of the children of Khaledan, obliged me to leave my dominions.  I suffered that prince to go to see his father, on condition that he came back in a year with my daughter; from that time I have heard nothing of them.  Your king will lay an infinite obligation on an afflicted father, by telling him if he knows what is become of them.”

Prince Amgiad, perceiving by his discourse that the king was his grandfather, kissed his hand with tenderness, and answered him thus:  “I hope your majesty will pardon my freedom, when you know that I only pay my duty to my grandfather.  I am the son of Kummir al Zummaun, king of the isle of Ebene, and of queen Badoura, for whom you are thus troubled; and I doubt not but they are both in good health in their kingdom.”