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with him and insinuate thyself into his good graces, for he lets not a soul enter the garden, because of its communication with the princess’s palace. I will let thee know two days beforehand of the day fixed for her coming forth, when do thou repair to the garden, as of thy wont, and make shift to pass the night there. When the princess comes, Night dccxxv.be thou hidden somewhere and presently show thyself to her. When she sees thee, she will infallibly fall in love with thee; for thou art fair to look upon and love covers all things. So take comfort and be of good cheer, O my son, for needs must I bring about union between her and thee.’
The prince kissed her hand and thanked her and gave her three pieces of Alexandrian silk and three of satin of various colours, and with each piece, linen for shifts and stuff for trouser and a kerchief for the turban and fine white cotton cloth of Baalbek for the linings, so as to make her six complete suits, each handsomer than its fellow. Moreover, he gave her a purse containing six hundred dinars and said to her, ‘This is for the fashion.’ She took the whole and said to him, ‘O my son, wilt thou not acquaint me with thine abiding-place and I also will show thee the way to my lodging?’ ‘Yes,’ answered he and sent a servant with her to note her lodging and show her his own.
Then he rose and bidding his slaves shut the shop, went back to the Vizier, to whom he related all that had passed between him and the old woman. ‘O my son,’ said the Vizier, ‘what wilt thou do, should the princess come out and look upon thee and thou find no favour with her?’ Quoth Ardeshir, ‘There will be nothing left but to pass from words to deeds and venture my life with her; for I will snatch her up from amongst her attendants and set her behind me on a swift horse and make for the uttermost of the desert. If I escape, I shall have gained my desire
