And the while he went，lo！ he saw a youth sitting at the door of a house on his road and saluted him.The youth returned his greeting and，going into the house，brought out two platters，one full of soured milk and the other of brewis swimming in clarified butter； and he set the platter before Kanmakan，saying 'Favour us by eating of our victual.'But he refused and quoth the young man to him，'What aileth thee，O man，that thou wilt not eat？'Quoth Kanmakan，'I have a vow upon me.'The youth asked，'What is the cause of thy vow？'，and Kanmakan answered，'Know that King Sasan seized upon my kingdom like a tyrant and an enemy，although it was my father's and my grand father's before me； yet he became master of it by force after my father's death and took no count of me，by reason of my tender years.So I have bound myself by a vow to eat no man's victual till I have eased my heart of my foe.'Rejoined the youth，'Rejoice，for Allah hath fulfilled thy vow.Know that he hath been prisoned in a certain place and methinks he will soon die.'Asked Kanmakan，'In what house is he confined？''Under yon high dome，'answered the other.The Prince looked and saw the folk entering and buffeting Sasan，who was suffering the agonies of the dying.So he arose and went up to the pavilion and noted what was therein； after which he returned to his place and，sitting down to the proferred victual，ate what sufficed him and put the rest in his wallet.Then he took seat in his own place and ceased not sitting till it was dark night and the youth，whose guest he was slept； when he rose and repaired to the pavilion wherein Sasan was confined.Now about it were dogs guarding it，and one of them sprang at him； so he took out of his budget a bit of meat and threw it to him.He ceased not casting flesh to the dogs till he came to the pavilion and，making his way to where King Sasan was，laid his hand upon his head； whereupon he said in a loud voice，'Who art thou？'He replied，'I am Kanmakan whom thou stravest to kill； but Allah made thee fall into thine evil device.Did it not suffice thee to take my kingdom and the kingdom of my father，but thou must purpose to slay me？'[105] And Sasan swore a false oath that he had not plotted his death and that the bruit was untrue.So Kanmakan forgave him and said to him，'Follow me.'Quoth he，'I cannot walk a single step for weakness.'Quoth Kanmakan，'If the case be thus we will get us two horses and ride forth，I and thou，and seek the open.'So he did as he said，and he took horse with Sasan and rode till day break，when they prayed the dawn prayer and fared on，and ceased not faring till they came to a garden，where they sat down and talked.Then Kanmakan rose to Sasan and said，'Is aught left to set thy heart against me？''No，by Allah！'replied Sasan.So they agreed to return to Baghdad and Sabbah the Badawi said，'I will go before you，to give folk the fair tidings of your coming.'Then he rode on in advance，acquainting women and men with the good news； so all the people came out to meet Kanmakan with tabrets and pipes； and Kuzia Fakan also came out，like the full moon shining in all her splendour of light through the thick darkness of the night.So Kanmakan met her，and soul yearned to soul and body longed for body.There was no talk among the people of the time but of Kanmakan； for the Knights bore witness of him that he was the most valiant of the folk of the age and said，'It is not right that other than Kanmakan should be our Sultan，but the throne of his grandfather shall revert to him as it began.'Meanwhile Sasan went in to his wife，Nuzhat alZaman，who said to him，'I hear that the folk talk of nothing but Kanmakan and attribute to him such qualities as tongue never can.'He replied，'Hearing of a man is not like seeing a man.I have seen him，but have noted in him none of the attributes of perfection.Not all that is heard is said； but folk ape one another in extolling and cherishing him，and Allah maketh his praises to run on the lips of men，so that there incline to him the hearts of the people of Baghdad and of the Wazir Dandan，that perfidious and treacherous man； who hath levied troops from all lands and taketh to himself the right of naming a King of the country； and who chooseth that it shall be under the hand of an orphan ruler whose worth is naught.'Asked Nuzhat alZaman，'What then is it that thou purposest to do？'
and the King answered，'I mean to kill him，that the Wazir may be baulked of his intent and return to his allegiance，seeing nothing for it but my service.'Quoth she，'In good sooth perfidy with strangers is a foul thing and how much more with kith and kin！ The righteous deed to do would be to marry him to thy daughter Kuzia Fakan and give heed to what was said of old time，'An Fate some person 'stablish o'er thy head，And thou being worthier her choice upbraid，Yet do him honour due to his estate；He'll bring thee weal though far or near thou vade：
Nor speak thy thought of him，else shalt thou be
Of those who self degrade from honour's grade：
Many Harims are lovelier than the Bride，But Time and Fortune lent the Bride their aid.'
When Sasan heard these her words and comprehended what her verse intended，he rose from her in anger and said，'Were it not that thy death would bring on me dishonour and disgrace，I would take off thy head with my blade and make an end of thy breath.'Quoth she，'Why art thou wroth with me？I did but jest with thee.'
