and hangings of various colours.  Then they spread the sails and stretched out into mid-ocean.  Quoth the young man, “Indeed, when they put to sea with me, meseemed it was a dream and I knew not whither they were wending with me.  Presently, we drew near to land, and I saw the shore full of troops none knoweth their number save Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) and all were magnificently arrayed and clad in complete steel.  As soon as the vessel had made fast to the land, they brought me five marked[FN#197] horses of noble breeds, housed and saddled with gold, inlaid with all manner pearls and high-priced bezel stones.  I chose out one of them and mounted it, whilst they led the four others before me.  Then they raised the banners and the standards over my head, whilst the troops ranged themselves right and left, and we set out, with drums beating and cymbals clashing, and rode on; whilst I debated in myself whether I were in sleep or on wake; and we never ceased faring, I believing not in that my estate, but taking all this for the imbroglio of a dream, till we drew near to the green mead, full of palaces and gardens and trees and streams and blooms and birds chanting the praises of Allah the One, the Victorious.  Hereupon, behold, an army sallied out from amid the palaces and gardens, as it were the torrent when it poureth down,[FN#198] and the host overflowed the mead.  These troops halted at a little distance from me and presently there rode forth from amongst them a King, preceded by some of his chief officers on foot.”  When he came up to the young man (saith the tale-teller) he dismounted also, and the two saluted each other after the goodliest fashion.  Then said the King, “Come with us, for thou art my guest.”  So they took horse again and rode on stirrup touching stirrup in great and stately procession, conversing as they went, till they came to the royal palace, where they alighted together.—­And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

       When it was the Five Hundred and Ninetieth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the two rode together in stately procession till they entered the palace, when the King taking the young man by the hand, led him into a domed room followed by his suite, and making him sit down on a throne of gold, seated himself beside him.  Then he unbound the swathe from his lower face; and behold, the King was a young lady, like the splendid sun shining in the sheeny sky, perfect in beauty and loveliness, brilliancy and grace, arrogance[FN#199] and all perfection.  The youth looked upon this singular blessing and embodied boon and was lost in wonder at her charms and comeliness and seemlihead and at the splendour and affluence he saw about him, when she said “Know, O King, that I am the Queen of this land and that all the troops thou hast seen, whether horse or foot, are women, there is no man amongst them; for in this our state the men delve and sow and ear and occupy themselves