"Deem not that absence breeds in me aught of forgetfulness; *
What should remember I did you fro' my remembrance wane?
Time dies but never dies the fondest love for you we bear; *
And in your love I'll die and in your love I'll arise
again."[FN#20]

When the Prince heard these verses, the fires of longing flamed
up in his heart and pine and passion redoubled upon him. Grief
and regret were sore upon him and his bowels yearned in him for
love of the King's daughter of Sana'a; so he rose forthright and,
escaping his father's notice, went forth the palace to the horse
and mounting it, turned the pin of ascent, whereupon bird-like it
flew with him high in air and soared towards the upper regions of
the sky. In early morning his father missed him and, going up to
the pinnacle of the palace, in great concern, saw his son rising
into the firmament; whereat he was sore afflicted and repented in
all penitence that he had not taken the horse and hidden it; and
he said to himself, "By Allah, if but my son return to me, I will
destroy the horse, that my heart may be at rest concerning my
son." And he fell again to weeping and bewailing himself.--And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.

When it was the Three Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the King
again fell to weeping and bewailing himself for his son. Such was
his case; but as regards the Prince, he ceased not flying on
through air till he came to the city of Sana'a and alighted on