“’The holy Gusa,in (who ought to be called the Plato [248] of these days), moves along examining the urine, and feeling the pulse of each, and giving each a recipe.  God has given him such healing power, that, on taking his medicines, their effects are instantaneous, and the disease utterly vanishes.  These circumstances I have seen with my own eyes, and adored the power of God which has created such beings!  If your majesty orders it, I will conduct the prince of the people of the world to that [wonderful man], and show the prince to him; I firmly hope he will soon be completely cured; moreover, this scheme is externally beneficial, for from inhaling the air of various places, and from the diet and drink of different countries [through which we shall pass], the prince’s mind will be restored to cheerfulness.’  The merchant’s advice seemed very proper to the king, and being pleased, he said, ’Very well; perhaps the holy man’s treatment may prove efficacious, and this melancholy may be removed from my son’s mind.’  The king appointed a confidential nobleman, who had seen the world, and had been tried on [various] occasions, together with the merchant, to attend me, and he furnished us with the requisite equipment.  Having seen us embark on boats of every variety, together with our baggage, he dismissed us.  Proceeding onwards, stage after stage, we arrived at the place [where the holy Gusa,in lived].  From change of air, and from living on a different diet, my mind became somewhat composed; but there still remained the same state of silence; and I wept incessantly.  The recollection of the lovely fairy was not for a moment effaced from my mind; if I spoke sometimes, it was only to repeat these lines:—­

    ’I know not what fairy-faced one has glanced over me,
    But my heart was sound and tranquil not long ago.’

At last, when two or three months had passed away, nearly four thousand sick had assembled on the rock, and all said, ’If God please, the Gusa,in will shortly come out of his abode, and bestow on us his advice, and we shall be perfectly cured.’  In short, when that day arrived, the Gusa,in appeared in the morning, like the sun, and bathed and swam in the river; he crossed over it and returned, and rubbed ashes of cow-dung over his body, and hid his fair form like a live coal under the ashes.  He made a mark with sandal wood on his forehead, girded on his langoti, [249] threw a towel over his shoulders, tied his long hair up in a knot, twisted his mustachios, and put on his shoes.  It appeared, from his looks, that the whole world possessed no value to him.  Having put a small writing desk set with gems under his arm, and looking at each [patient] in turn, he gave them his recipes, and came to me.  When our looks met, he stood still, paused for a moment, and then said to me, ‘Come with me.’  I went along with him.