When it became morning, just after dawn, the son of the king of that country went out on the mountain to hunt and saw the apprentice curled up in the tree. The light being yet dim, he believed that he had discovered a strange kind of bird. So he shot an arrow at it, which flew wide of its mark and hit the tree instead.
When the prince came nearer he saw, to his horror, that it was not a bird at which he had shot, but a human being. Fear seized upon him. He called out, “Are you an animal or a jinn?”
“I am neither the one nor the other,” the girl replied. “I am a man. Fear of the wild beasts drove me to seek refuge here.”
“Then descend. And with my arrows I will protect you,” answered the prince.
After he had assisted her down, he was touched with sympathy at her miserable state, and at once conducted her to the palace. When they had arrived there, and the stranger was led to the bath, she told the slave that she would like a woman servant to be sent to her. To this one she revealed the truth that she was not a man, but had been obliged to wear the clothing of one, for the sake of [[140]]safety. The slave woman then bathed and dressed her in garments that were fitting.
When this had been done, all those who were in the bath were surprised; for the one who had come to them as an apprentice lad, seemed now as the fourteenth of the moon for beauty. Her like had never been seen in the palace.
The slaves led her from the bath and into the presence of the prince, who, at sight of her loveliness, became as if intoxicated in his mind. He remained thus for more than an hour. When his reason returned he went directly into his father’s presence.
“Most revered father!” said the prince. “Yesterday I went out to hunt and found a most strange thing—a maiden who had been frightened by the wild animals and had taken refuge in a tree. What could I do? It is the province of the brave to succor the weak. Therefore I assisted her to the ground and brought her home with me. Since she has been relieved from terror and refreshed with the bath, she appears to me as the loveliest and most desirable maiden in the whole world. She is become my fate. I beg that you will permit me to marry her.”
Hardly could the king restrain his astonishment at this. “What childish tale are you telling me, [[141]]my son? Lead hither the maiden! Let me look upon her!”
The prince made haste to command her coming, for he was assured, in his heart, that even the king must admit her loveliness.