and all my joys were turned into bitterness.  From that day, man became my aversion.  I live in a corner of this garden; and for the sake of agreeably occupying my mind, I made this emerald vase, ornamented with flowers, and every month I go to the plain, mounted on that same bull, break the vase, and kill a slave, with the hope that every one may see my sad state and pity me; perhaps some creature of God may so far favour me and pray for me, that I even may regain the desire [of my heart].  O faithful friend, such as I have related to thee is the sad tale of my madness and lunacy.”

I wept at hearing it, and said, “O prince, you have truly suffered greatly from love; but I swear here by God, that I will abandon my own wishes, and will now roam among woods and mountains for your good, and do all I can [to find out your beloved fairy].  Having made this promise, I took leave of the prince, and for five years wandered through the desert, sifting the dust, like a mad man, but found no trace [of the fairy].  At last, desponding of success, I ascended a mountain, and wished to throw myself down [from its summit], so that neither bone nor rib [in my frame] might remain entire.  The same veiled horseman, [who saved you from destruction], came up to me and said, “Do not throw away thy life; in a few days thou wilt be in possession of the desires of thy heart.”  O holy Darweshes!  I have at last seen you.  I have now hopes that joy and happiness will be our lot, and all of us, now affected as we are, may attain our wished-for objects.

TALE OF AZAD BAKHT.

When the second Darwesh had likewise finished telling the relation of his adventures, the night ended, and the time of morning was just beginning.  The king, Azad Bakht, silently proceeded towards his own kingly abode.  On arriving at his palace, he said his prayers.  Then, having gone to the bathing-house, and dressed himself superbly, he proceeded to the Diwani ’Amm and mounted his throne; and he issued an order, saying, “Let a messenger go and bring along with him, with respect, to our presence, four Darweshes who have [recently] arrived at such a place.”  The messenger went there according to orders, and perceived that the four Darweshes, after performing the necessary calls, and washed their hands and faces, were on the point of setting out on [their peregrinations], and take their different roads.  The messenger said to them, “Reverend sirs, the king has called you four personages; come along with me.”  The four Darweshes began to stare at each other, and said to the messenger, “Son, we are the monarchs of our own hearts; what have we to do with a king of this world?” The messenger answered, “Holy sirs, there is no harm in it, and it is better you should go.”