youth, the heart is torn with anguish to reflect on the princess's
sad condition at that time. Ask that innocent and inexperienced heart
what it felt.

"In short, she sat in the litter, and putting her trust in God,
she repeated to herself at that moment these verses:--


"When I had no teeth, then thou gavest milk;
When thou hast given teeth, wilt thou not grant food!
He who takes care of the fowls of the air,
And of all the animals of the earth,
He will also take care of thee.
Why art thou sad, simple-minded one!
By being sorrowful thou'lt get nothing;
He who provides for the fool, for the wise, and for the whole world,
Will likewise provide for thee.'


"It is true, that when no resource remains, then God is remembered,
or else every one in his own plans, thinks himself a _Lukman_, and a
_Bu' Ali Sina_. [224] Now listen to the surprising ways of God. In
this manner three days clear passed away, during which a grain of
food did not enter the princess's mouth; her flower-like frame became
quite withered as a [dry] thorn; and her colour, which hitherto
shone like gold, became yellow as turmeric; her mouth became rigid,
and her eyes were petrified, but still a faint respiration remained
passing and re-passing. Whilst there is life, there is hope. In the
morning of the fourth day, a hermit appeared of bright countenance,
in appearance like _Khizr_, [225] and of an enlightened heart. Seeing