When they had recovered, the first thing Schemselnihar did was to look about:  and not seeing Ebn Thaher, she asked, with eagerness, where he was?  He had withdrawn out of respect whilst her women were engaged in recovering her, and dreaded, not without reason, that some disagreeable consequence might follow what he had seen; but as soon as he heard Schemselnihar inquire for him, he came forward.

Schemselnihar was much pleased to see Ebn Thaher, and expressed her joy in the most obliging terms:  “Ebn Thaher, I know not how to make you proper returns for the great obligations you have put upon me; without you, I should never have seen the prince of Persia, nor have loved the most amiable person in the world.  Assure yourself I shall not die ungrateful, and that my gratitude, if possible, shall be equal to the obligation.”  Ebn Thaher answered this compliment by a low obeisance, and wished the favourite the accomplishment of all her desires.

Schemselnihar, turning towards the prince of Persia, who sat by her, and looking upon him with some confusion after what had passed, said to him, “I am well assured you love me, and how great soever your love may be to me, you need not doubt but mine is as great towards you:  but let us not flatter ourselves; for, notwithstanding this conformity of our sentiments, I see nothing for you and me but trouble, impatience, and tormenting grief.  There is no other remedy for our evils but to love one another constantly, to refer ourselves to the disposal of Heaven, and to wait its determination of our destiny.”  “Madam,” replied the prince of Persia, “you will do me the greatest injustice, if you doubt for a moment the continuance of my love.  It is so interwoven with my soul, that I can justly say it makes the best part of it, and will continue so after death.  Pains, torments, obstacles, nothing shall prevent my loving you.”  Speaking these words he shed tears in abundance, and Schemselnihar was not able to restrain hers.

Ebn Thaher took this opportunity to speak to the favourite.  “Madam, allow me to represent to you, that, instead of melting into tears, you ought to rejoice that you are now together.  I understand not this grief.  What will it be when you are obliged to part?  But why do I talk of that?  We have been a long while here, and you know, madam, it is time for us to be going.”  “Ah! how cruel are you!” replied Schemselnihar, “You, who know the cause of my tears, have you no pity for my unfortunate condition?  Oh! sad fatality!  What have I done to subject myself to the severe law of not being able to join with the only person I love?”