“I replied, ’This slave’s life and property are at your service, and I shall think as the happiness of my destinies if they can be of any use to your highness; I will perform [what you desire] with my life and soul.’  On hearing these words, she called for a kalam-dan, wrote a note, put it into a small purse made of pearls, wrapped the purse in a fine muslin handkerchief, and gave it to me; she gave me likewise a ring which she took from off her finger, as a mark [by which I might make myself known]; she then said to me, ’On the opposite side [of the city] is a large garden, its name is Dil-kusha, or “Delight of the Heart.”  Go you there.  A person named Kaikhusru is the superintendent [of the garden]; deliver into his hands the ring, and bless him for me, and ask a reply to this note, but return quick, as if you ate your dinner there and drank your wine here; [370] you will see what a reward I shall give you for this service.’  I took my leave, and went along inquiring my way.  When I had gone about two kos_, I saw the garden.  When I reached it, an armed man seized me, and led me into the garden gate.  I saw there a young man with the looks of a lion; he was seated on a stool of gold, with an air of state and dignity, having on an armour [forged] by _Da,ud_, [371] with breast plates, and a steel helmet.  Five hundred young men, holding each in his hands a shield and sword, and equipped with bows and arrows, were drawn up in a line, and ready [to execute his orders].

“I made him my salam, and he called me to him; I delivered him the ring, and, paying him many compliments, I showed him the handkerchief, and mentioned also the circumstance of having brought him a note.  The moment he heard me, he bit his finger with his teeth, and slapping his head, he said, ’Perhaps your evil destiny hath brought you here.  Well, enter the garden; an iron cage hangs on a cypress tree, in which a young man is confined; give him this note, receive his answer, and return quickly.’  I immediately entered the garden; what a garden it was! you might say that I had entered alive into Paradise.  Every individual parterre bloomed with variegated flowers; the fountains were playing, and the birds were warbling [on the trees].  I went straight on, and saw the cage suspended from the tree, in which I perceived a very handsome young man.  I bent my head with respect, and saluted him, and gave him the sealed and enveloped note through the bars of the cage.  That young man opened the note and read it, and inquired of me about the princess with great affection.

“We had not yet done speaking, when an army of negroes appeared, and fell on me on all sides, and began to attack me without delay with their swords and spears; what could one single unarmed man do?  In a moment they covered me with wounds; I had no sensation or recollection of myself.  When I recovered my senses, I found myself on a bed, which two soldiers were carrying along [on their shoulders]; they were speaking to each other; one said, ’Let us throw the corpse of this dead man on the plain; the dogs and crows will soon eat it up.’  The other replied, ’If the king should make investigation, and learn this circumstance, he will bury us alive, and grind our children to paste; what! are our lives become a burthen to us, that we should act so rashly?’