undergone such labour, and overcome so many dangers, and had come there to ascertain the circumstances, yet on seeing the young man I was quite confounded and stood silent with astonishment.  The young man, according to his usual custom, did what he used to do, and returned [to the woods]; and the concourse of people from the city likewise returned thither.  When I had collected my senses, I then repented [saying to myself], “What is this you have done?  Now it is your lot to wait anxiously for another whole month.”  Having no remedy, I returned with the rest; and I passed that month like the month of Ramazan, [233] counting one day after another.  At last the new moon appeared, and was hailed by me as ’Id. [234] On the first of the month, the king and the inhabitants again assembled on that same plain; then I determined, that this time, let what will happen, I would be resolute, and propound this mysterious circumstance.

Suddenly the young man appeared, mounted, according to custom, on a yellow bull, and, dismounting, sat down [on the ground]; in one hand he held a naked sword, and in the other the bull’s halter; he gave the vase to his attendant, who, as usual, showed it to every one, and carried it back [to his master].  The crowd, on seeing the vase, began to weep; the young man broke the vase, and struck such a blow on the slave’s neck as to sever his head from his body, and, he himself remounting the bull, returned [towards the woods].  I began to run after him, with all speed, but the inhabitants laid hold of my hand, and exclaimed, “What is this you are going to do? why, knowingly, art thou about to perish?  If thou art so tired of life, there are a great many ways of dying, by which thou mayest end thy existence.”  How much soever I beseeched them [to let me go], and even had recourse to main force, in order that by some means I might escape from their hands, yet I could not release myself.  Three or four men clung fast to me, and having seized me, led me towards the city.  I again suffered for another whole month in a strange state of disquietude.

When that month passed also, and the last day of it had elapsed, all the inhabitants assembled on the plain on the following morning in the same manner.  I, apart from all, arose at the hour of [morning] prayer.  I went before all the others [were astir] into the woods, and there lay concealed, exactly on the road by which the young man was to pass; for no one could there restrain me [from executing my project].  The young man came in the usual manner, performed the same acts [already described], re-mounted, and was returning.  I followed him, and eagerly running up, I joined him.  The young man, from the noise of my steps, perceived that some body was coming after him.  All at once, turning round the halter of his bull, he gave a loud shout, and threatened me; then drawing his sword, he advanced towards me, and was about to strike.  I bent down with the utmost