“Finally, the roses which I sent were given to you, who received them and experienced a strange influence. At that very time a golden-winged messenger [[95]]appeared to me, bearing this child in his arms and saying: ‘He will be kept for you until you shall lie in your tomb. Do not fear! All will yet be well!’
“Then I caused this tomb to be builded, and, shortly after, a witch was sent by my undoers, who stole this life-keeping amulet from my arm. At that moment I died. They laid me in this tomb, where I have remained until, at your approach, the golden-winged messenger again approached and left the child beside me. I could stir neither hand nor foot. As to the child, O, prince! it is yours. It was created in Paradise, when you were holding the roses to your face.”
As this tale unfolded itself and the willing listener was convinced of its truth, he wept so bitterly at all her sufferings that the tears might have been of blood. Then, recovering himself, he clasped the narrator to his heart.
He then lifted her out of the casket, gave her his arm to lean upon, and, taking the child upon his other arm and surrounded by his attendants, conducted her to his palace.
After his queen mother had received them, and, summoning slaves, had made the mother and child comfortable in a most luxurious apartment, the prince commanded that the wicked nurse and her daughter [[96]]should appear before him; when he ordered the chief headsman to strike them dead.
The man gave them each so heavy a blow that their bones rattled. Their souls were dispatched to Hades and their bodies were thrown out to the dogs. Then the prince rejoiced greatly, saying: “Praise be to Allah that, at last, he has freed me from those evil vixens! Now has my head become clear again.”
Afterward, he sent fleet messengers to bring the parents of her whom they had thought dead. And he also called the kind muleteer and his wife. In the presence of all these and of his court, was he married to the Beautiful One whose light footstep caused the grass to grow upon the driest earth; whose laughter filled his life with roses, and whose tears—even tears of joy at her newly found happiness—became pearls before his eyes.
The wedding festivities extended throughout the kingdom. They continued during forty days and forty nights. The prince and his beautiful wife, and the child which had been given to them, lived happily ever afterward. With the great sums of gold which rolled from the head of the true princess whenever she performed her ablutions, the prince was able to pay great debts which the late war had entailed upon his country. Thus were his people relieved of the heavy taxes. Salaam! [[97]]