been ever so anxious to proceed. They were situated in a barren
country, about four leagues distant from whence he set out. When
Prince Ahmed came near these rocks, he perceived an arrow, which he
picked up, looked earnestly at it, and was in the greatest
astonishment to find it was the same he shot. 'Certainly,' said he
to himself, 'neither I nor any man living could shoot an arrow so
far'; and finding it laid flat, not sticking into the ground, he
judged that it had rebounded from the rock. 'There must be some
mystery in this,' said he to himself again, 'and it may be to my
advantage. Perhaps fortune, to make me amends for depriving me of
what I thought the greatest happiness of my life, may have reserved
a greater blessing for my comfort.' As these rocks were full of
sharp points and crevices between them, the prince, full of these
thoughts, entered a cavity, and looking about, cast his eyes on an
iron door, which seemed to have no lock. He feared it was fastened;
but pushing against it, it opened, and discovered an easy descent,
but no steps. He walked down with his arrow in his hand. At first
he thought he was going into a dark place, but presently a quite
different light succeeded that which he had come out of. Coming
upon a spacious square, fifty or sixty paces distant, he perceived
a magnificent palace; but he had not time to look at it, for at the
same moment a lady of majestic air, and of a beauty to which the
richness of her clothes and the jewels which adorned her person
added nothing, advanced as far as the porch, attended by a troop of
ladies, of whom it was difficult to distinguish which was the
mistress.

As soon as Prince Ahmed perceived the lady, he hastened to pay his
respects; and the lady, on her part, seeing him coming, was
beforehand with him. Raising her voice, she said, 'Come near,