Accordingly, the fairy prince bade them adieu and went away, leaving the beautiful palace, with its setting of costly gems, unto the others.
Then the princess caused a messenger to carry the news of her final good fortune to her own father; who rejoiced, greatly, that the daughter, whom he had mourned as dead, was still alive and living in the estate due to her birth. He sent royal presents and his blessing. Then were the prince and princess married again; and their second wedding was celebrated during forty days and forty nights. They lived happily ever afterward.
And may Allah grant the same to us! [[157]]
STORY OF THE WATER-CARRIER
The tellers of stories and narrators of tales say that, once upon a time, there was a king who had only one child and that a daughter.
Now, it happened that the king’s vizier, whose house was directly opposite the palace, was likewise circumstanced with regard to his family. And, moreover, the two young ladies had each a room in the very front of her dwelling, and each was very beautiful.
One day the two were sitting at their respective windows, furtively regarding each other across the street, when a tall and handsome water-carrier chanced to pass. Seeing him thus, the king’s daughter spoke.
“O, water-boy, water-boy! Which is the more beautiful, the vizier’s daughter or I?”
The water-carrier gazed upon each in turn, then answered: “My princess, both of you are very beautiful; but, since one must not lie to the child of his king, the vizier’s daughter is the more so.” [[158]]