Page:Fairy tales from the Arabian nights.djvu/315

 Prince Bahman and Prince Perviz perceived how greatly they were indebted to the princess their sister, as did all the other gentlemen, who had collected round, and heard all that was said. They all declared themselves her slaves, and said they were ready to obey in whatever she should command.

'Gentlemen,' replied the princess, 'I rejoice with you for the happiness which has come to you by my means. Let us, however, stay no longer in a place where we have nothing to detain us; but mount our horses, and return to our respective homes.'

The Princess Parizade led the way. She went and took her horse, which stood in the place where she had left him. Before she mounted. Prince Bahman desired her to give him the cage to carry. 'Brother,' replied the princess, 'the bird is my slave, and I will carry him myself; if you will be so kind as to carry the branch of the singing tree, there it is; only hold the cage while I get on horseback.' When she had mounted her horse, and Prince Bahman had given her the cage, she turned round and said to Prince Perviz, 'I leave the flagon of golden water to your care, if it will not be too much trouble for you to carry it.' Prince Perviz took charge of it with pleasure.

When Prince Bahman and Prince Perviz and all the gentlemen had mounted their horses, the Princess Parizade waited for some of them to lead the way. The two princes waited for the gentlemen, and they again for the princess, who, finding that none of them would accept the honour, but that it was reserved for her, said, 'Gentlemen, I do not deserve the honour you do me, and accept it only because you desire it.' So she led the way, and the two princes and the gentlemen followed her all together.

This illustrious company called upon the dervish, as they passed by, to thank him for his kindness and wholesome advice, which they had all found to be sincere. But he was dead; whether from old age, or because he was no longer necessary to show the way to the three curiosities, did not appear. They pursued their way, but lessened in number every day, for the gentlemen who had come from different countries, after repeating their obligations to the princess and her brothers, took leave of them one after another.