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and thanked him for his bounty and kindness. Then he recalled the days of love-delight and union with his slave-girl without peer, and he wept sore and recited the following verses:
Will the Compassionate, indeed, unite us, me and thee, And shall I win to my desire by favouring Fate’s decree?
And shall time’s shifts vouchsafe me yet a visit from my fair And shall mine eyelids seize upon thine image greedily?
Were thine enjoyment to be bought, I’d buy it with my life. But thy possession is, alack! too dear for me, I see.
Then he went to the market and bought what he needed of victual and other necessaries for the voyage and returned to the captain, who said to him, ‘O my son, what is that thou hast with thee?’ ‘My provisions and that whereof I have need for the voyage,’ answered Noureddin. ‘O my son,’ said the old man, laughing, ‘art thou going a-pleasuring to Pompey s Pillar? Verily, between thee and that thou seekest is two months’ journey, if the wind be favourable and the weather fair.’ Then he took of him somewhat of money and going to the market, bought him all that he needed for the voyage and filled him a cask with fresh water. Noureddin abode in the ship three days, till the merchants had made an end of their preparations and embarked, when they set sail and putting out to sea, fared on one-and-fifty days. After this, there came out upon them corsairs, who sacked the ship and taking Noureddin and the rest prisoners, carried them to the city of France and showed them to the king, who bade cast them into prison.
At this moment the galleon arrived with the Princess Meryem and the one-eyed vizier, and when it reached the harbour, the latter landed and going up to the king, gave him the glad news of his daughter’s safe return: whereupon they beat the drums for good tidings and decorated the city after the goodliest fashion. Then the
