While the princess was dressing, the princes went to throw themselves at the sultan their father’s feet; but when they came to him, they found he had been previously informed of their unexpected arrival by the chief of the princess’s eunuchs, and by what means the princess had been so suddenly cured.  The sultan received and embraced them with the greatest joy, both for their return, and the wonderful recovery of the princess his niece, whom he loved as if she had been his own daughter, and who had been given over by the physicians.  After the usual compliments, the princes presented each the rarity which he had brought:  prince Houssain his carpet, prince Ali his ivory tube, and prince Ahmed the artificial apple; and after each had commended his present, as he put it into the sultan’s hands, they begged of him to pronounce their fate, and declare to which of them he would give the princess Nouronnihar, according to his promise.

The sultan of the Indies having kindly heard all that the princes had to say in favour of their rarities, without interrupting them, and being well informed of what had happened in relation to the princess Nouronnihar’s cure, remained some time silent, considering what answer he should make.  At last he broke silence, and said to them in terms full of wisdom, “I would declare for one of you, my children, if I could do it with justice; but consider whether I can?  It is true, Ahmed, the princess my niece is obliged to your artificial apple for her cure:  but let me ask you, whether you could have been so serviceable to her if you had not known by Ali’s tube the danger she was in, and if Houssain’s carpet had not brought you to her so soon?  Your tube, Ali, informed you and your brothers that you were likely to lose the princess your cousin, and so far she is greatly obliged to you.  You must also grant, that the knowledge of her illness would have been of no service without the artificial apple and the carpet.  And as for you, Houssain, the princess would be very ungrateful if she did not show her sense of the value of your carpet, which was so necessary a means towards effecting her cure.  But consider, it would have been of little use, if you had not been acquainted with her illness by Ali’s tube, or if Ahmed had not applied his artificial apple.  Therefore, as neither the carpet, the ivory tube, nor the artificial apple has the least preference to the other articles, but as, on the contrary, their value has been perfectly equal, I cannot grant the princess to any one of you; and the only fruit you have reaped from your travels is the glory of having equally contributed to restore her to health.

“As this is the case,” added the sultan, “you see that I must have recourse to other means to determine me with certainty in the choice I ought to make; and as there is time enough between this and night, I will do it to-day.  Go and procure each of you a bow and arrow, repair to the plain where the horses are exercised; I will soon join you, and will give the princess Nouronnihar to him who shoots the farthest.