At these words the prince was almost ready to expire with grief, affliction, and fear; he recovered, however, and demanded of the jeweller what resolution he would advise him to take in this unhappy conjuncture.  The jeweller told him he thought nothing more proper than that he should immediately take horse, and haste away towards Anbar, [Footnote:  Anbar is a city on the Tigris, twenty leagues below Bagdad.] that he might get thither with all convenient speed.  Take what servants and horses you think necessary, continued he, and suffer me to escape with you.

The prince, seeing nothing more advisable, immediately gave orders for such an equipage as would be least troublesome; so having put some money and jewels in his pocket, and taking leave of his mother, he departed in company with the jeweller, and with such servants as he had chosen.  They travelled all that day and the day following without stopping, till at length, about the dusk of the evening, their horses and selves being greatly fatigued, they alighted at an inn to refresh themselves.

They had hardly sat down, before they found themselves surrounded and assaulted by a gang of thieves.  They defended their lives for some time courageously; but, at length, the prince’s servants being all killed, both he and the jeweller were obliged to yield at discretion.  The thieves, however, spared their lives; but, after they had seized their horses and baggage, they took away their clothes, and left them naked.

In this condition, and after the thieves had left them, the prince said to the jeweller, What is to be done, my friend, in this conjuncture?  Had I not better, think you, have tarried in Bagdad, and undergone any fate, rather than have been reduced to this extremity?  My lord, replied the jeweller, it is the decree of Heaven that we should thus suffer.  It has pleased God to add affliction to affliction, and we must not murmur at it, but receive his chastisements with submission.  Let us stay no longer here, but go and look out for some place where we may be concealed and relieved.

No, let me rather die, said the prince; for what signifies it whether I die here or elsewhere? for die I know I must very shortly.  It may be, this very minute that we are talking, Schemselnihar is no more!  And why should I endeavour to live after she is dead?  The jeweller at length prevailed on him to go; but they had not gone far before they came to a mosque, which, being open, they entered, and passed there the remainder of the night.

At day-break a single man came into the mosque to his devotion.  When he had ended his prayer, and was turning to go out, he perceived the prince and the jeweller, who were sitting in a corner to conceal themselves.  He went up to them; and, saluting them with a great deal of civility, said, By what I perceive, gentlemen, you seem to be strangers.

The jeweller answered, You are not deceived, sir.  We have been robbed to-night in coming from Bagdad, and retired hither for shelter.  If you can relieve us in our necessities, we shall he very much obliged to you, for we know nobody here to whom to apply to.  The man answered, If you think fit to come to my house, I shall do what I can for you.