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goest and make me not taste anew the bitterness of separation from thee.’ Quoth he, ‘Wilt thou indeed go with me?’ and she answered, ‘Yes.’ ‘Then,’ said he, ‘arise, that we may depart.’ So she rose forthright and going to a chest, arrayed herself in what was richest and dearest to her of her trinkets of gold and jewels of price. Then he carried her up to the roof of the palace and mounting the horse, took her up behind him and bound her fast to himself; after which he turned the peg of ascent, and the horse rose with him into the air. When her women saw this, they shrieked aloud and told her father and mother, who rushed up to the roof of the palace and looking up, saw the ebony horse flying away with the prince and princess. At this the King was sore troubled and cried out, saying, ‘O King’s son, I conjure thee, by Allah, have compassion on me and my wife and bereave us not of our daughter!’ The prince made him no reply, but, thinking that the princess repented of leaving her father and mother, said to her, ‘O ravishment of the age, wilt thou that I restore thee to thy father and mother?’ ‘By Allah, O my lord, that is not my desire,’ answered she; ‘my only wish is to be with thee wherever thou art; for I am distracted by the love of thee from all else, even to my father and mother.’ At this the prince rejoiced greatly and made the horse fare softly with them, so as not to disquiet the princess; nor did they stay their flight till they came in sight of a green meadow, in which was a spring of running water. Here they alighted and ate and drank; after which they took horse again and fared on, till they came in sight of his father’s capital. At this, the prince was filled with joy and bethought himself to show her the seat of his dominion and his father’s power and dignity and give her to know that it was greater than that of her father. So he set her down in one of his father’s pleasance-gardens [without the city] and carrying her into
