She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the King's
son spread great banquets for the towns-folk and they held high
festival a whole month, at the end of which time he went in to
the Princess and they took their joy of each other with exceeding
joy. But his father brake the ebony horse in pieces and destroyed
its mechanism for flight; moreover the Prince wrote a letter to
the Princess's father, advising him of all that had befallen her
and informing him how she was now married to him and in all
health and happiness, and sent it by a messenger, together with
costly presents and curious rarities. And when the messenger
arrived at the city which was Sana'a and delivered the letter and
the presents to the King, he read the missive and rejoiced
greatly thereat and accepted the presents, honouring and
rewarding the bearer handsomely. Moreover, he forwarded rich
gifts to his son-in-law by the same messenger, who returned to
his master and acquainted him with what had passed; whereat he
was much cheered. And after this the Prince wrote a letter every
year to his father-in-law and sent him presents till, in course
of time, his sire King Sabur deceased and he reigned in his
stead, ruling justly over his lieges and conducting himself well
and righteously towards them, so that the land submitted to him
and his subjects did him loyal service; and Kamar al-Akmar and
his wife Shams al-Nahar abode in the enjoyment of all
satisfaction and solace of life, till there came to them the
Destroyer of deligights and Sunderer of societies; the Plunderer
of palaces, the Caterer for cemeteries and the Garnerer of
graves. And now glory be to the Living One who dieth not and in
whose hand is the dominion of the worlds visible and invisible!
Moreover I have heard tell the tale of