At last the prince of Persia, after they had thrown water on his face, recovered his spirits.  Prince, said Ebn Thaher to him, we run the risk of being destroyed, if we stay here any longer; let us therefore endeavour to save our lives.  He was so feeble that he could not rise unassisted.  Ebn Thaher and the confident lent him their hands, and supported him on each side.  They came to a little iron gate which opened towards the Tigris, went out at it, and got to the side of a little canal communicating with the river.  The confident clapped her hands, and immediately a little boat appeared, which came towards them with one rower.  Ali Ebn Becar and his comrade went aboard, and the trusty slave staid at the side of the canal.  As soon as the prince sat down in the boat, he stretched out one hand towards the palace and laid the other upon his heart.  Dear object of my soul! cried he with a feeble voice, receive my faith with this hand, while I assure you with the other, that for you my heart shall for ever preserve the fire with which it burns!

In the mean time the boatman rowed with all his might; and Schemselnihar’s trusty slave accompanied the prince of Persia and Ebu Thaher, walking along the side of the canal, until they came to the Tigris; and when she could go no further, she took farewell of them, and returned.

The prince of Persia continued very feeble.  Ebn Thaher comforted him, and exhorted him to take courage.  Consider, said he, that when we are landed, we have a great way to go before we come to my house; and I would not at this hour, and in this condition, advise you home to your lodgings, which are a great way further off than mine.  At length they got out of the boat, but the prince was so weak that he could not walk, which put Ebn Thaher into great perplexity.  He remembered he had a friend in the neighbourhood, and carried the prince thither with great difficulty.  His friends received them very cheerfully; and, when he made them sit down, asked where they had been so late.  Ebn Thaher answered him, I was this evening with a man who owed me a considerable sum of money, and designed to go a long voyage.  I was unwilling to lose time to find him, and by the way I met with this young nobleman whom you see, and to whom I am under a thousand obligations; for, knowing my debtor, he would needs do me the favour of going along with me.  We had a great deal of trouble to bring the man to reason; besides, we went out of the way, and that is the reason we are so late.  In our return home, this good lord, for whom I have all possible respect, was attacked by a sudden distemper; which made me take the liberty of calling at your house, flattering myself that you would be pleased to give us quarters for this night.

Ebn Thaher’s friend, who believed all this, told them they were welcome, and offered the prince of Persia, whom he knew not, all the assistance he could desire; but Ebn Thaher spoke for the prince, and said, that his distemper was of a nature that required nothing but rest.  His friend understood by this that they desired to go to bed; on which he conducted them to an apartment, where he left them.