at the place; three I killed and the fourth got away, and has
taken refuge beneath the throne of Mihr-afruz, daughter of King
Quimus. I took Gul back to my palace, and from that time till
now I have treated her as a dog is treated, and I have cared for
my dog as though it were my wife. Now you know what the rose did
to the cypress; and now you must keep compact with me.'

'I shall keep my word,' said the prince; 'but may a little water
be taken to the roof so that I may make my last ablution?'

To this request the king consented. The prince mounted to the
roof, and, getting into a corner, struck his fire-steel and
burned one of the Sirurgh's feathers in the flame. Straightway
it appeared, and by the majesty of its presence made the city
quake. It took the prince on its back and soared away to the
zenith.

After a time King Sinaubar said: 'That young man is a long time
on the roof; go and bring him here.' But there was no sign of
the prince upon the roof; only, far away in the sky, the Simurgh
was seen carrying him off. When the king heard of his escape he
thanked heaven that his hands were clean of this blood.

Up and up flew the Simurgh, till earth looked like an egg resting
on an ocean. At length it dropped straight down to its own
place, where the kind prince was welcomed by the young birds and
most hospitably entertained. He told the whole story of the rose
and the cypress, and then, laden with gifts which the Simurgh had
gathered from cities far and near, he set his face for the Castle
of Clashing Swords. The king-lion came out to meet him; he took