“Once it so happened, that the princess had gone to her father, and I was repeating my prayers in perfect security, after having performed my ablutions, when suddenly the princess, conversing with her nurse, entered, saying, ’Let us see what the Persian is now doing; whether he be asleep or awake!’ But seeing that I was not in my place, she was greatly surprised, and exclaimed, ’Hey day! where is he gone?  I hope he has not formed an attachment with some one else.’  She began to examine every hole and corner in search of me, and at last came to where I was saying my prayers.  She had never seen any one perform his prayers; [325] she stood in silence, and looked on.  When I had finished my prayers, and lifted up my arms to bless God, and prostrated myself, she laughed loudly, and said, ’What! is this man become mad? what various postures does he assume?’

“On hearing the sound of her laughter, I became alarmed.  The princess advanced, and asked me, ‘O Persian, what wast thou doing?’ I could make no reply, on which the nurse said, ’May I take [the responsibility of] thy evils, and become thy sacrifice, it appears to me that this man is a Musalman, and the enemy of Lat and Manat; [326] he worships an unseen God.  The princess immediately on hearing this struck her hands together, and said in great wrath, ’I did not know he was a Turk, [327] and an unbeliever in our gods, for which reason he had fallen under the wrath of our idol.  I have erroneously saved him and kept him in my house,’ Saying this she went away.  On hearing [her words] I became disturbed, [and alarmed to know] how she would now behave to me.  Through fear, sleep was driven from me, and until morning I continued to weep, and to bathe my face with tears.

“I passed three days and nights, weeping in this fear and hope.  I never shut an eye [during this time.] The third night, the princess came to my apartment flushed with the intoxication of wine, and the nurse along with her.  She was full of anger; and with a bow and arrows in her hand, she sat down outside of the room, on the border of the chaman; [328] she asked the nurse for a cup of wine, and after drinking it off, she said, ’O nurse! is that Persian who is involved in our great idol’s wrath, dead, or does he yet live?’ The nurse answered, ‘May I bear your evils! some life still remains,’ The princess said, ‘He has now fallen in my estimation; but tell him to come out.’  The nurse called me; I ran forth and perceived that the princess’s face glowed through anger, and had become quite red.  My soul remained not in my body; I saluted her, and having joined both my hands together, stood before her [in silent respect.] Giving me a look of anger, she said to the nurse, ’If I kill this enemy of our faith with an arrow, will the great idol pardon my guilt or not?  I have already committed a great crime by having kept him in my house, and by supplying [his wants.]’