Having so spoken, King Saleh, who had restored Prince Beder to his nurse’s arms, opened a box he had fetched from his palace in the little time he had disappeared, which was filled with three hundred diamonds, as large as pigeons’ eggs; a like number of rubies of extraordinary size; as many emerald wands, each half a foot long, and thirty strings or necklaces of pearl consisting each of ten feet.  “Sir,” said he to the king of Persia, presenting him with this box, “when I was first summoned by the queen my sister, I knew not what part of the earth she was in, or that she had the honour to be married to so great a monarch.  This made us come without a present.  As we cannot express how much we have been obliged to your majesty, I beg you to accept this small token of gratitude in acknowledgment of the many favours you have been pleased to shew her, wherein we take equal interest.”

It is impossible to express how greatly the king of Persia was surprised at the sight of so much riches, enclosed in so little compass.  “What! prince,” cried he, “do you call so inestimable a present a small token of your gratitude, when you never have been indebted to me?  I declare once more you have never been in the least obliged to me, neither the queen your mother nor you.  I esteem myself but too happy in the consent you have given to the alliance I have contracted with you.  Madam,” continued he, turning to Gulnare, “the king your brother has put me into the greatest confusion; and I would beg of him to permit me to refuse his present, were I not afraid of disobliging him:  do you therefore endeavour to obtain his leave that I may be excused accepting it.”

“Sir,” replied King Saleh, “I am not at all surprised that your majesty thinks this present so extraordinary.  I know you are not accustomed upon earth to see precious stones of this quality and number:  but if you knew, as I do, the mines whence these jewels were taken, and that it is in my power to form a treasure greater than those of all the kings of the earth, you would wonder we should have the boldness to make you so small a present.  I beseech you therefore not to regard its trifling value, but consider the sincere friendship which obliges us to offer it to you, and not give us the mortification of refusing it.”  These engaging expressions obliged the king of Persia to accept the present, for which he returned many thanks both to King Saleh and the queen his mother.

A few days after, King Saleh gave the king of Persia to understand, that the queen his mother, the princesses his relations, and himself, could have no greater pleasure than to spend their whole lives at his court; but that having been so long absent from their own kingdom, where their presence was absolutely necessary, they begged of him to excuse them if they took leave of him and Queen Gulnare.  The king of Persia assured them, he was sorry it was not in his power to return their visit in their own dominions; but added, “As I am persuaded you will not forget Gulnare, I hope I shall have the honour to see you again more than once.”