quite afflicted at the strange and astonishing sight; but being helpless, I thought it best to bury him.  The moment I began to take him down from the tree, two keys dropt from his locks; I took them up, and interred that treasure of excellence in the earth.  Having taken with me the two keys, I began to apply them to all the locks.  By chance I opened the locks of two rooms with these keys, and perceived that they were filled from the floor to the roof with precious stones; in one place I saw a chest covered with velvet, with clasps of gold, and locked.  When I opened it, then I saw in it a book, in which was written the “Most awful of Names,” [254] and the mode of invoking the genii, and the fairies, and the holding of intercourse with spirits, and how to subdue them, also the mode of charming the sun.

“I became quite delighted at the idea of having acquired such a treasure, and began to put those [charms] in practice.  I opened the garden door, and said to the nobleman, and to those who had come with me, ’Send for the vessels [which had brought us, and embark in them all these jewels, specie, merchandise, and books,’ and having embarked myself in a small vessel, I proceeded from thence to the main ocean.  When sailing along, I approached my own country.  The intelligence reached my father.  He mounted his horse, and advanced to meet us; with anxious affection he clasped me to his bosom; I kissed his feet, and said, ’May this humble being be allowed to live in the former garden?’

“The king replied, ’O my son, that garden appears to me calamitous, and I have therefore forbidden its being kept up; that spot is not at present fit for the abode of man; reside in any other abode which your heart may desire.  You had best choose some place in the fort, and live under my eyes; and having there formed such a garden as you wish, continue to walk about and to amuse yourself.’  I strenuously resisted and caused the former garden to be repaired once more, and having embellished it like a perfect paradise, I went to reside in it.  There, at my ease, I fasted forty days for the purpose of subduing the jinns to my will; and having abandoned living creatures, I began to practise [my spells] on the world of spirits.

“When the forty days were completed, such a terrible storm arose at midnight, that the very strongest buildings fell down, and trees were uprooted and scattered in all directions; an army of fairies appeared.  A throne descended from the air, on which a person of dignified appearance was seated, richly dressed, with a crown of pearls on his head.  On seeing him, I saluted him with great respect; he returned my salutation, and said, ’O friend, why hast thou raised this commotion for nothing? what dost thou want with me?’ I replied, ’This wretch has been long in love with your daughter, and for her I have every where wandered about wretched, distracted, and am dead, though alive; I am now sick of existence, and have staked my life on this deed which I have done.  All my hopes now rest on your benevolence, that you will exalt this unfortunate wanderer with your favour, and that you will bestow on me life and happiness, by allowing me to behold [your fair daughter]; it will be an act of great merit.’ [255]