seeking and I would not exchange thee for all the jewels in the
world. Didst thou but know the grief which possessed me for thy
separation, thou whom I took from thy parents by fraud and
brought thee to the King of the Jinn!" [FN#138]

Scarce had the prince made an end of his speech when they heard a
noise of thunder rending the mountains and shaking the earth and
fear get hold upon the queen, the mother of Zein ul Asnam, yea,
and sore trembling; but, after a little, the King of the Jinn
appeared and said to her, "O lady, fear not, it is I who am thy
son's protector and I love him with an exceeding love for the
love his father bore me. Nay, I am he who appeared to him in his
sleep and in this I purposed to try his fortitude, whether or not
he might avail to subdue himself for loyalty's sake. Indeed the
beauty of this young lady beguiled him and he could not avail to
keep his covenant with me so strictly but [FN#139] that he desired
her for his bride. However, I know the frailty of human nature
and withal I think greatly of him that he guarded her and kept
her unsullied and withdrew himself from her; [FN#140] wherefore I
accept this his constancy and bestow her on him as a bride. She
is the ninth image, which I promised him should be with him, and
certes she is fairer than all these images of jewels, inasmuch as
her like is rarely found in the world." Then the King of the Jinn
turned to Zein ul Asnam and said to him, "O Prince Zein ul Asnam,
this is thy bride; take her and go in to her, on condition that
thou love her and take not unto her a second [wife]; and I
warrant thee of the goodliness of her fidelity to-thee-ward."
Therewithal he vanished from them and Zein ul Asnam went out,
glad and rejoicing in the young lady; [FN#141] and of [the excess
of] his love for her he went in to her that night and let