than she in mine eyes. So return now to thy place and the ninth
image that thou seekest of me thou shalt find, on thy return,
beside the other images; for I will send it to thee by one of my
slaves of the Jinn." Accordingly, Zein ul Asnam kissed the King's
hand and returned with Mubarek to Cairo; but, when they came
thither, he chose not to abide with Mubarek longer than a
resting-while, of the excess of his longing and his yearning to
see the ninth image. Withal he ceased not from mourning,
bethinking him of the young lady and her grace and goodliness;
and he fell to lamenting and saying, "Alas for the loss of my
delights that were because of thee, O pearl of beauty and
loveliness, thou whom I took from thy parents and presented to
the King of the Jinn! Alack, the pity of it!" And [FN#136] he chid
himself for the deceit and the perfidy which he had practised
upon the young lady's parents and how he had brought her to the
King of the Jinn.

Then he set out and gave not over journeying till he came to
Bassora and entering his palace, saluted his mother and told her
all that had befallen him; whereupon quoth she to him, "Arise, O
my son, so thou mayst [FN#137] see this ninth image, for that I am
exceeding rejoiced at its presence with us." So they both
descended into the underground hall, wherein were the eight
images, and found there a great marvel; to wit, instead of the
ninth image, they beheld the young lady, resembling the sun in
her loveliness. The prince knew her, when he saw her, and she
said to him, "Marvel not to find me here in place of that which
thou soughtest; methinketh thou wilt not repent thee an thou take
me in the stead of the ninth image." "No, by Allah, oh my
beloved!" replied Zein ul Asnam, "For that thou art the end of my