not he who seeketh thee in marriage, for he is hideous and this
man is handsome and of high degree. Indeed, the other is not fit
to be his servant."[FN#16] Then the handmaidens went out to the
eunuch, and finding him slumbering awoke him, and he started up
in alarm. Said they, "How happeth it that thou art on guard at
the palace and yet men come in to us, whilst we are asleep?" When
the black heard this, he sprang in haste to his sword, but found
it not; and fear took him and trembling. Then he went in,
confounded, to his mistress and seeing the Prince sitting at talk
with her, said to him, "O my lord, art thou man or Jinni?"
Replied the Prince, "Woe to thee, O unluckiest of slaves: how
darest thou even the sons of the royal Chosroes[FN#17] with one
of the unbelieving Satans?" And he was as a raging lion. Then he
took the sword in his hand and said to the slave, "I am the
King's son-in-law, and he hath married me to his daughter and
bidden me go in to her." And when the eunuch heard these words he
replied, "O my lord, if thou be indeed of kind a man as thou
avouchest, she is fit for none but for thee, and thou art
worthier of her than any other." Thereupon the eunuch ran to the
King, shrieking loud and rending his raiment and heaving dust
upon his head; and when the King heard his outcry, he said to
him, "What hath befallen thee?: speak quickly and be brief; for
thou hast fluttered my heart." Answered the eunuch, "O King, come
to thy daughter's succour; for a devil of the Jinn, in the
likeness of a King's son, hath got possession of her; so up and
at him!" When the King heard this, he thought to kill him and
said, "How camest thou to be careless of my daughter and let this
demon come at her?" Then he betook himself to the Princess's
palace, where he found her slave-women standing to await him and
asked them, "What is come to my daughter?" "O King," answered