The hawk whistled with laughter, and the Genie was stung with its mockeries, and clutched the Princess of Oolb in a bunch, and arose from the ground with her, slanting up the night-air like fire, till he was seen high up even as an angry star reddening the seas beneath.

When he was lost to the eye, Shibli Bagarag drew a long breath and cried aloud, ’The likeness of that Princess of Oolb in her ugliness to Noorna, my betrothed, is a thing marvellous, if it be not she herself.’  And he reflected, ‘Yet she seemed not to recognize and claim me’; and thought, ’I am bound to her by gratitude, and I should have rescued her from Karaz, but I know not if it be she.  Wullahy!  I am bewildered; I will ask counsel of the hawk.’  He looked to the corner of the rock where the hawk had perched, but the hawk was gone; as he searched for it, his eyes fell upon the bed of earth where the Lily stood ere he plucked it, and lo! in the place of the Lily, there was a damsel dressed in white shining silks, fairer than the enchanted flower, straighter than the stalk of it; her head slightly drooping, like the moon on a border of the night; her bosom like the swell of the sea in moonlight; her eyes dark, under a low arch of darker lashes, like stars on the skirts of storm; and she was the very dream of loveliness, formed to freeze with awe, and to inflame with passion.  So Shibli Bagarag gazed at her with adoration, his hands stretched half-way to her as if to clasp her, fearing she was a vision and would fade; and the damsel smiled a sweet smile, and lifted her antelope eyes, and said, ’Who am I, and to whom might I be likened, O youth?’

And he answered, ’Who thou art, O young perfection, I know not, if not a Houri of Paradise; but thou art like the Princess of Oolb, yet lovelier, oh lovelier!  And thy voice is the voice of Noorna, my betrothed; yet purer, sweeter, younger.’

So the damsel laughed a laugh like a sudden sweeping of wild chords of music, and said, ’O youth, saw’st thou not the ascent of Noorna, thy betrothed, gathered in a bunch by Karaz?’

And he answered, ’I saw her; but I knew not, O damsel of beauty; surely I was bewildered, amazed, without power to contend with the Genie.’

Then she said, ’Wouldst thou release her?  So kiss me on the lips, on the eyes, and on the forehead, three kisses each time; and with the first say, “By the well of Paravid”; and with the second, “By the strength of Garraveen!” and with the third, “By the Lily of the Sea!"’

Now, the heart of the youth bounded at her words, and he went to her, and trembling kissed her all bashfully on the lips, on the eyes, and on the forehead, saying each time as she directed.  Then she took him by the hand, and stepped from the bed of earth, crying joyfully, ’Thanks be to Allah and the Prophet!  Noorna, is released from the sorceries that held her, and powerful.’

So, while he was wondering, she said, ’Knowest thou not the woman, thy betrothed?’