Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/306

272 thee!” Then he went to the trapdoor and called to the page, saying, “Come forth and fear not; no harm shall befall thee.” So he came out, trembling for fear, and the husband condoled with him on what had befallen him, saying, “Be of good cheer: none shall hurt thee;” whilst the page called down blessings on his head. Then they both went forth, nor was either aware of that which the woman had contrived. This, then, O King,’ said the vizier, ‘is one of the tricks of women; so beware lest thou put faith in their speech.’

The King was persuaded and turned from putting his son to death, but, next day, the favourite came in to him and kissing the earth before him, said, ‘O King, do me justice on thy son and be not turned from thy purpose by thy Vizier’s prate, for there is no good in wicked viziers, and be not as the king, who relied on the word of a certain wicked vizier of his.’ ‘And how was that?’ asked the King. Quoth she, ‘It hath been told me, O august and well-advised King, that THE KING’S SON AND THE OGRESS.

A certain king had a son, whom he loved and favoured over all his other children; and this son said to him one day, “O my father, I have a mind to go a-hunting.” So the king bade furnish him and commanded one of his viziers to bear him company and do all he needed during his absence. The vizier accordingly took all that was necessary for the journey and they set out with a retinue of slaves and servants and officers, and fared on till they came to a green and well-watered champaign abounding in pasture and game. Here the prince called a halt and they loosed the hawks and lynxes and dogs and caught great plenty of game, whereat they rejoiced and abode there some days, in all pleasance and delight of life. Then