The King's Son and the Ogress
A certain king had a son, whom he loved and favoured over all his other children; and
this son said to him one day, "O my father, I have a mind to go a-hunting." So the
king bade furnish him and commanded one of his viziers to bear him company and
do all he needed during his absence. The vizier accordingly took all that was necessary
for the journey and they set out with a retinue of slaves and servants and officers, and
fared on till they came to a green and well-watered champaign abounding in pasture
and game. Here the prince called a halt and they loosed the hawks and lynxes and
dogs and caught great plenty of game, whereat they rejoiced and abode there some
days, in all pleasance and delight of life. Then the prince gave the signal for departure,
but, as they went along, a beautiful gazelle, as if the sun shone from her forehead, that
had strayed from the herd, sprang up before the prince, whereupon his soul longed to
make prize of her and he coveted her. So he said to the vizier, "I have a mind to
follow yonder gazelle." "Do what seemeth good to thee," said the vizier. So the prince
rode after the gazelle, till he lost sight of his companions, and chased her all that day
till dusk, when she took refuge in the mountains and the darkness closed in upon him.
Then he would have turned back, but knew not the way; whereat he was sore
concerned and said, "There is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the
Supreme!"
He rode on all night, in quest of relief, but found none, and when the day appeared,
he fared on at hazard, fearful and exhausted with hunger and thirst and the heat of the
sun, until midday, when he came in sight of a great city, with massive walls and lofty
turrets; but it was ruined and desolate, nor was there any live thing therein save the
owl and the raven. As he stood among the ruins, marvelling at their ordinance, his
eyes fell on a young and beautiful damsel sitting weeping, under one of the city walls.
So he went up to her and said, "Who art thou and who brought thee hither?" "I am
called Bint et Temimeh, daughter of Et Tiyakh, King of the Gray Country," answered
she. "I went out one day on an occasion, when an Afrit of the Jinn snatched me up
and soared with me between heaven and earth; but as he flew, there fell on him a
flame of fire and consumed him, and I dropped here, where I have hungered and
thirsted these three days; but, when I saw thee, I coveted life."
The prince was smitten with compassion for her and took her up behind him, saying,
"Take heart and be of good cheer; for, if God (blessed and exalted be He!)restore me
to my people and family, I will send thee back to thine own people." Then he rode on,
praying to God for deliverance, and presently she said to him, "O King's son, put me
down, that I may do an occasion under yonder wall." So he drew bridle and she
alighted and hid herself behind the wall. He waited for her a long while and she came
back, with the foulest of favours; which when he saw, he quaked for fear of her and
his hair stood on end and he turned pale. Then she sprang up behind him, wearing the
most hideous of aspects, and presently she said to him, "O King's son, what ails thee
that I see thee troubled and thy favour changed?" Quoth he, "I have bethought me of
somewhat that troubles me." And she, '' Seek aid against it of thy father's troops and
warriors." "He whom I fear," answered the prince, "cares nothing for troops, neither
can warriors affright him." "Then," rejoined she, "aid thyself against him with thy
father's wealth and treasures." Quoth he, "He whom I fear will not be satisfied with
wealth and treasures." And she, "Ye pretend that ye have in heaven a God who sees
and is not seen and who can do all things." "Yes," answered he; "we have none but
Him." "Then," said she, "pray thou to Him; haply He will deliver thee from thine
enemy." So he raised his eyes to heaven and began to pray with his whole heart,
saying, "O my God, I implore Thee to succour me against that which troubles me."
Then he pointed to her with his hand, and she fell to the ground, burnt and black as a
coal. Therewith he thanked God and praised Him and fared onward. And God
(blessed and exalted be He!) of His grace made the way easy to him and guided him
into the right road, so that he reached his father's capital, after he had despaired of
life. Now all this befell by the contrivance of the vizier, who travelled with him to the
end that he might cause him to perish by the way; but God the Most High succoured
him. 'And this,' said the damsel, 'have I told thee, O King, that thou mayst know that
wicked viziers deal not honestly by their kings neither counsel them with sincere
intent, wherefore be thou ware of them in this matter.'
The King gave ear to her speech and commanded to put his son to death; but the
third vizier said [to his brother viziers,] 'I will warrant you from the King's mischief
this day;' and going in to him, kissed the earth before him and said, 'O King, I am thy
loyal counsellor and affectionately solicitous for thee arid thine estate, and indeed, I
give thee a true counsel; it is that thou hasten not to slay thy son, the solace of thine
eyes and the fruit of thine entrails. Belike his offence is but a slight matter, which this
damsel hath made great to thee; and indeed I have heard tell that the people of two
villages once destroyed each other, because of a drop of honey.' 'How was that?' asked
the King, and the Vizier answered, saying, 'Know, O King, that