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them set up there the pavilion of Fekhr Taj, daughter of the Chosroës; so they pitched it among the trees and spread it with rich carpets. Then he sat down and the slaves brought food and they ate till they were satisfied; after which quoth Gherib, ‘Harkye, Saadan!’ ‘At thy service, O my lord,’ answered the Ghoul. ‘Hast thou any wine?’ asked Gherib, and Saadan replied, ‘Yes, I have a cistern full of old wine.’ ‘Then,’ said Gherib, ‘bring us some of it.’ So Saadan sent ten slaves, who returned with great plenty of wine, and they ate and drank and made merry. And Gherib bethought him of Mehdiyeh and recited the following verses:
I mind me of the happy days of union and delight, And all my heart’s on fire with love and longing for thy sight.
By God, I did not leave thy side of my unfettered will, But by the strange and evil chance of Fate in my despite!
Peace be upon thee, O my love, a thousand times be peace! Whilst I, afar from thee, remain a sad and weary wight.
They abode there three days, eating and drinking and taking their pleasure in the valley, at the end of which time they returned to the castle. Then Gherib called Sehim and said to him, ‘Take a hundred horse and go to thy father and mother and thy people, the Benou Kehtan, and bring them all to this place, here to pass the rest of their days, whilst I carry the Princess of Persia back to her father. As for thee, O Saadan,’ continued Gherib, addressing the Ghoul, ‘abide thou here with thy sons, till I return to thee.’ ‘And why,’ asked Saadan, ‘wilt thou not carry me with thee to the land of the Persians?’ ‘Because,’ answered Gherib, ‘thou stolest away King Sabour’s daughter and if his eye fall on thee he will eat thy flesh and drink thy blood.’ When the Ghoul heard this, he laughed a great laugh, as it were the pealing thunder, and said, ‘O my lord, if the Persians and the Medes united against me, I would make them quaff the cup of death.’ ‘Doubtless it
