Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/126

104 flowers, brought them into the pavilion, and they ate and drank and sported and made merry. Now Janshah was accomplished in beauty and grace and slender and elegant of shape, and the princess Shemseh said to him, ‘By Allah, O my beloved, I love thee with an exceeding love and will never leave thee!’ When he heard her words, his heart dilated and he laughed for joy; and they abode thus awhile in mirth and gladness.

Whilst they were laughing and taking their pleasure in the pavilion, Sheikh Nesr returned from the assembly of the birds and came in to them; whereupon they all rose to him and saluted him and kissed his hands. He gave them welcome and bade them be seated. So they sat down and he said to Shemseh, ‘Verily, this youth loves thee with an exceeding love; so, God on thee, deal kindly with him, for he is of the great ones of mankind and of the sons of the kings, and his father rules over the land of Kabul and is possessed of a mighty empire.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ answered she and kissing the Sheikh’s hands, stood before him [in token of respect and obedience]. ‘If thou speak truly,’ said he, ‘swear to me by Allah that thou wilt never betray him, what while thou abidest in the chains of life.’ So she swore a great oath that she would never betray Janshah, but would assuredly marry him, and added, ‘I will never forsake him.’ The Sheikh believed in her oath and said to Janshah, ‘Thanks be to God, who hath made you at one!’ At this the prince rejoiced with an exceeding great joy, and he and Shemseh abode three months with Sheikh Nesr, feasting and making merry.

At the end of that time, the princess said to Janshah, ‘I wish to go with thee to thy native land, that we may marry and abide there.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ answered he and took counsel with Sheikh Nesr, who bade him go and commended the princess to his care. Then said she, ‘O Sheikh Nesr, bid him give me my feather-vest.’ So the