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 them. And the youngest Princess wept bitterly as she embraced Hasan, and told him how she had longed and suffered for his return. And Hasan told all that had happened on his journey from first to last, and said to his youngest sister, "I shall never forget all thou hast done for me from first to last."

And Hasan and his wife abode with the Princesses ten days, feasting and merrymaking, at the end of which time they prepared to continue their journey. And his sisters made him presents of riches and rarities, and bade him a loving farewell. And after journeying two months and ten days they came to Bagdad, and Hasan repaired to his home by the private gate and knocked at the door.

Now his mother had not ceased to mourn him since his departure, but shed tears night and day, and for lack of food and sleep had fallen ill. And she heard her son's voice, saying, "O mother, mother, Fortune hath been kind and hath vouchsafed our reunion." Whereupon she went to the door between belief and misbelief, and when she saw him and his wife and children she cried aloud for excess of joy, and fell to the earth in a fainting fit. And when she had recovered and he had comforted her, he related all his adventures from beginning to end. And they passed the night in all pleasure and happiness, and on the morrow Hasan donned rich apparel and went to the bazaar and bought black slaves and slave girls, rich stuffs and ornaments and furniture, carpets and costly vessels, and all manner of precious