When morning came and the prince arose—what [[145]]should he find? That his little son was gone, no one knew whither; and that the mouth and even the nose of the princess were all covered with blood. Horror possessed him. He was frantic with grief, and the king, learning within the hour of the dreadful matter, sent an order to the chief executioner that the princess must be killed immediately.
In obedience to the royal command, the executioner bound the hands of the princess behind her and led her toward an open square. But the royal prisoner was so fair and seemed so innocent and heartbroken, that even the heart of the executioner was touched. When they were beyond sight of those in the palace, he said to her:
“O, my princess! I cannot put you to death! Fly from here. Go in any direction you choose; only do not return to the palace. And may Allah give you peace!” Thus speaking, he set her free.
The unhappy young woman went away weeping bitterly. Grief at the loss of her husband’s love, and terror as to the fate of her little ones, broke her heart. Knowing not whither, she unconsciously pursued the path by which the prince had rescued her when upon the mountain.
But even then she was not to escape. Presently the bird appeared.
“Ai!” she cried. “And art thou come again? [[146]]Hast thou not afflicted me according to thy wish thus far? Leave me now, I beseech thee! to mourn over all thou hast taken from me!”
But the bird lifted her by her clothing and flew off with her.
After some time they came to a palace which was all covered with precious stones—one never before seen by human eyes nor described by a human tongue. It was so beautiful that the eyes of any beholder must become dazzled at the sight of it.
Into the garden of this palace the bird descended with his burden. As soon as their feet touched the marble wall he gave himself a shake, and at once turned into a young prince who was like the full moon for beauty.
When the princess saw this transformation, her terror was changed to amazement. The prince then took her hand to lead her up the steps into the palace, when a servant met them, leading three children whose faces shone like the beams of a star—so fair were they to look upon.