'
At these words, the magician, who pretended illness only to know
where the prince lived, did not refuse the kind offer he made her
so freely, and to show her acceptance rather by action than by
word, she made many affected efforts to get up, pretending that her
illness prevented her. At the same time two of the prince's
attendants alighted off their horses, helped her up, and set her
behind another. They mounted their horses again, and followed the
prince, who turned back to the iron gate, which was opened by one
of his retinue who rode before. When he came into the outer court
of the fairy's palace, without dismounting, he sent to tell her he
wanted to speak to her.
The fairy Pari Banou came with all haste, not knowing what made
Prince Ahmed return so soon. Not giving her time to ask him, he
said, 'My princess, I desire you would have compassion on this good
woman,' pointing to the magician, who was taken off the horse by
two of his retinue: 'I found her in the condition you see, and
promised her the assistance she stands in need of. I commend her to
your care, and am persuaded that you will not abandon her.'
The fairy Pari Banou, who had her eyes fixed upon the pretended
sick woman all the time that the prince was talking, ordered two of
the women who followed her to take her from the two men that held
her up, and carry her into the palace, and take as much care of her
as they could.
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