and, clasping a collar of jewels about her neck, carried her to
the bath and served her there. Then they brought her forth, as
she were the full moon; and, when she came into the King's
presence, she saluted him and kissed ground before him; whereupon
he joyed in her with joy exceeding and said to the Prince, "O
Sage, O philosopher, all this is of thy blessing. Allah increase
to us the benefit of thy healing breath!"[FN#29] The Prince
replied, "O King, for the completion of her cure it behoveth that
thou go forth, thou and all thy troops and guards, to the place
where thou foundest her, not forgetting the beast of black wood
which was with her; for therein is a devil; and, unless I
exorcise him, he will return to her and afflict her at the head
of every month." "With love and gladness," cried the King, "O
thou Prince of all philosophers and most learned of all who see
the light of day." Then he brought out the ebony horse to the
meadow in question and rode thither with all his troops and the
Princess, little weeting the purpose of the Prince. Now when they
came to the appointed place, the Prince, still habited as a
leach, bade them set the Princess and the steed as far as eye
could reach from the King and his troops, and said to him, "With
thy leave, and at thy word, I will now proceed to the fumigations
and conjurations, and here imprison the adversary of mankind,
that he may never more return to her. After this, I shall mount
this wooden horse which seemeth to be made of ebony, and take the
damsel up behind me; whereupon it will shake and sway to and fro
and fare forwards, till it come to thee, when the affair will be
at an end; and after this thou mayst do with her as thou wilt."
When the King heard his words, he rejoiced with extreme joy; so
the Prince mounted the horse and, taking the damsel up behind
him, whilst the King and his troops watched him, bound her fast