Then he tried to his own house and bade make ready presents befitting Kings，of precious stones and things of price and other matters light of load but weighty of worth，besides Rabite steeds and coats of mail，such as David made[462] and chests of treasure for which speech hath no measure.And the Wazir loaded the whole on camels and mules，and set out attended by an hundred slave girls with flags and banners flaunting over his head.The King charged him to return to him after a few days；and，when he was gone，Sulayman Shah lay on coals of fire，engrossed night and day with desire；while the envoy fared on without ceasing through gloom and light，spanning fertile field and desert site，till but a day's march remained between him and the city whereto he was bound.Here he sat him down on the banks of a river and，summoning one of his confidants，bade him wend his way to King Zahr Shah and announce his approach without delay.Quoth the messenger，'I hear and I obey！' And he rode on in haste to that city and，as he was about to enter therein，it so chanced that the King，who was sitting in one of his pleasaunces before the city gate，espied him as he was passing the doors，and knowing him for a stranger，bade bring him before the presence.So the messenger coming forward informed him of the approach of the Wazir of the mighty King Sulayman Shah，Lord of the Green Land and of the Mountains of Ispahan： whereat King Zahr Shah rejoiced and welcomed him.Then he carried him to his palace and asked him，'Where leavedst thou the Wazir？'；and he answered，'I left him in early day on the banks of such a river and tomorrow he will reach thee，Allah continue his favours to thee and have mercy upon thy parents！' Thereupon King Zahr Shah commanded one of his Wazirs to take the better part of his Grandees and Chamberlains and Lieutenants and Lords of the land，and go out to meet the ambassador in honour of King Sulayman Shah；for that his dominion extended over the country.Such was the case with Zahr Shah；but as regards the Wazir he abode in his stead till night was half spent[463] and then set out for the city；but when morning shone and the sun rose upon hill and down，of a sudden he saw King Zahr Shah's Wazir approaching him，with his Chamberlains and high Lords and Chief Officers of the kingdom；and the two parties joined company at some parasangs'distance from the city.[464]Thereat the Wazir made sure of the success of his errand and saluted the escort，which ceased not preceding him till they reached the King's palace and passed in before him through the gate to the seventh vestibule，a place where none might enter on horseback，for it was near to where the King sat.So the Minister alighted and fared on a foot till he came to a lofty saloon，at whose upper end stood a marble couch，set with pearls and stones of price，and having for legs four elephant's tusks.Upon it was a coverlet of green satin purfled with red gold，and above it hung a canopy adorned with pearls and gems，whereon sat King Zahr Shah，whilst his officers of state stood in attendance before him.When the Wazir went in to him，he composed his mind and，unbinding his tongue，displayed the oratory of Wazirs and saluted the King in the language of eloquence.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say，When it was the One Hundred and Eighth Night，She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that when the Wazir of King Sulayman Shah entered the presence of King Zahr Shah he composed his mind and，unbinding his tongue，displayed the oratory of Wazirs and saluted the King in the language of eloquence and improvised these couplets，'He cometh robed and bending gracefully：O'er crop and cropper dews of grace sheds he：
He charms；nor characts，spells nor gramarye May fend the glances of those eyne from thee：
Say to the blamer，'Blame me not，for I From love of him will never turn to flee'：
My heart hath played me false while true to him，And Sleep，in love with him，abhorreth me：
O heart！th'art not the sole who loveth him，So bide with him while I desertion dree：
There's nought to joy mine ears with joyous sound Save praise of King Zahr Shah in jubilee：
A King albeit thou leave thy life to win One look，that look were all sufficiency：
And if a pious prayer thou breathe for him，Shall join all Faithfuls in such pious gree：
Folk of his realm！ If any shirk his right For other hoping，gross Unfaith I see.'
When the Wazir had ended his poetry，King Zahr Shah bade him draw near and honoured him with the highmost honours；then，seating him by his own side，smiled in his face and favoured him with a gracious reply.They ceased not on this wise till the time of the under meal when the attendants brought forward the tables of food in that saloon and all ate till they were sated；after which the tables were removed and those who were in the assembly withdrew，leaving only the chief officers.Now when the Minister saw this，he rose to his feet and，after complimenting the King a second time and kissing the ground before him，spake as follows，'O mighty King and dread Lord！ I have travelled hither and have visited thee upon a matter which shall bring thee peace，profit and prosperity： and it is this，that I come as ambassador to thee，seeking in marriage thy daughter，the noble and illustrious maid，from Sulayman Shah，a Prince famed for justice and integrity，sincerity and generosity，Lord of the Green Land and of the Mountains of Ispahan，who sendeth thee of presents a store，and gifts of price galore，ardently desiring to become thy son in law.But art thou inclined to him as he to thee？' He then kept silence，awaiting a reply.When King Zahr Shah heard these words，he sprang to his feet and kissed the ground respectfully before the Wazir，while the bystanders were confounded at his condescension to the ambassador and their minds were amazed.
