gave him the lie forthright and declared that he was a sorcerer
and a villain. So the King took her from the old man and bade
beat him and cast him into the trunk-house. As for the ebony
horse, I know not what became of it." When the Prince heard these
words, he drew near to the merchant and began questioning him
discreetly and courteously touching the name of the city and of
its King; which when he knew, he passed the night full of joy.
And as soon as dawned the day he set out and travelled sans
surcease till he reached that city; but, when he would have
entered, the gate-keepers laid hands on him, that they might
bring him before the King to question him of his condition and
the craft in which he was skilled and the cause of his coming
thither-such being the usage and custom of their ruler. Now it
was supper-time when he entered the city, and it was then
impossible to go in to the King or take counsel with him
respecting the stranger. So the guards carried him to the jail,
thinking to lay him by the heels there for the night; but, when
the warders saw his beauty and loveliness, they could not find it
in their hearts to imprison him: they made him sit with them
without the walls; and, when food came to them, he ate with them
what sufficed him. As soon as they had made an end of eating,
they turned to the Prince and said, "What countryman art thou?"
"I come from Fars," answered he, "the land of the Chosroes." When
they heard this they laughed and one of them said, "O
Chosroan,[FN#25] I have heard the talk of men and their histories
and I have looked into their conditions; but never saw I or heard
I a bigger liar than the Chosroan which is with us in the jail."
Quoth another, "And never did I see aught fouler than his favour
or more hideous than his visnomy." Asked the Prince. "What have
ye seen of his lying?"; and they answered, "He pretendeth that he