“When the princess received this agreeable intelligence, she was greatly pleased in her mind, and wrote the [following letter]:  ’To the protector of the world, prosperity!  On hearing the intelligence of your majesty’s visit, to my humble mansion, I am infinitely rejoiced; and it has been the cause of respect and dignity to me, the meanest [of your slaves].  How happy is the fate of that place where your majesty’s footsteps are impressed, and on the inhabitants of which the shadow of the skirt of your prosperity is cast; may they both be dignified with the look of favour!  This slave hopes that to-morrow, being Thursday, is a propitious day, and to me, it is more welcome than the day of Nau Roz, [228] your majesty’s person resembles the sun; by condescending to come here, be pleased to bestow, with your light, value and dignity on this worthless atom, and partake of whatever his humble slave can provide; this will be the essence of benevolence and courtesy, on the part of your majesty:  to say more would exceed the bounds of respect.’  To the nobleman who brought the message she made some presents, and dismissed him [with the above reply.]

“The king read the letter, and sent word, saying, ’We have accepted your invitation, and will certainly come.’  The princess ordered the servants and all the attendants to get ready the necessary preparations for an entertainment, with such propriety and elegance, that the king, on seeing [the banquet] and eating thereof, might be highly pleased; and that all who came with the king, great and little, should be well entertained and return content.  From the princess’s strict directions, the dishes, of every kind, both salt and sweet, were so deliciously prepared, that if the daughter of a Brahman [229] had tasted them, she would have become a Musalman. [230] When the evening came, the king went to the princess’s palace, seated on an uncovered throne; the princess, with her ladies in waiting, advanced to receive him; when she cast her eyes on the king’s throne, she made the royal obeisance with such proper respect, that on seeing it, the king was still more surprised; with the same profound respect she accompanied the king to the throne, set with jewels, which she had erected for him.  The princess had prepared a platform of 125,000 pieces of silver; [231] a hundred and one trays of jewels and of gold pieces, and woollen shiffs, shawls, muslins, silk and brocades; two elephants and ten horses, of ’Irak and Yaman, with caparisons set with precious stones, were likewise prepared [for the royal acceptance].  She presented these to his majesty, and stood before him herself with folded arms.  The king asked with great complacency, ’Of what country are you a princess, and for what reasons are you come here?’