said: 'O delicious person! O Chinese Venus! how shall I excuse
myself for giving you so much trouble? With what words can I
thank you?' Then she called for a clothes-wallet and chose out a
royal dress of honour. Her attendants dressed him in it, and
brought him again before the tender-hearted lady. She turned to
him a hundred hearts, took his hand and seated him beside her,
and said: 'O youth! tell me truly who you are and where you come
from, and how you fell into the power of my sister.'

Even when he was a deer the prince had much admired Jamila now he
thought her a thousand times more lovely than before. He judged
that in truth alone was safety, and so told her his whole story.
Then she asked: 'O Prince Almas-ruh-bakhsh, do you still wish so
much to make this journey to Waq of Qaf? What hope is there in
it? The road is dangerous even near here, and this is not yet
the borderland of the Caucasus. Come, give it up! It is a great
risk, and to go is not wise. It would be a pity for a man like
you to fall into the hands of jins and demons. Stay with me, and
I will do whatever you wish.'

'O most delicious person!' he answered, 'you are very generous,
and the choice of my life lies in truth in your hands; but I beg
one favour of you. If you love me, so do I too love you. If you
really love me, do not forbid me to make this journey, but help
me as far as you can. Then it may be that I shall succeed, and
if I return with my purpose fulfilled I will marry you according
to the law, and take you to my own country, and we will spend the
rest of our lives together in pleasure and good companionship.
Help me, if you can, and give me your counsel.'