By this time the night had overtaken him and he sat on the rooftill he was assured that all in the palace slept；and indeed hunger and thirst were sore upon himfor that he had not tasted food since he parted from his father. So he said in himself'Surelythe like of this palace will not lack of victual，'and leaving the horse therewent in quest of somewhat to eat. Presentlyhe came to a stair and descending itfound himself in a court paved with white marble and alabasterthat shone in the light of the moon. He marvelled at the place and the goodliness of its fashionbut heard no sound and saw no living soul and stood in perplexitylooking right and left and knowing not whither he should go. Then said he to himself'I cannot do better than return to where I left my horse and pass the night by it；and as soon as it is dayI will mount and depart.'Howeveras he stood talking to himselfhe espied a light within the palaceand making towards itfound that it came from a candle that stood before a door of the palaceat the head of an eunuchas he were one of the Afrits of Solomon or a tribesman of the Jinnlonger than a plank and wider than a bench. He lay asleep before the doorwith the pommel of his sword gleaming in the flame of the candleand at his head was a budget of leather hanging from a column of granite.
When the prince saw thishe was affrighted and said'I crave help from God the Supreme！ O my Godeven as Thou hast [already] delivered me from destructionvouchsafe me strength to quit myself of the adventure of this palace！'So sayinghe put out his hand to the budget and taking itcarried it to a place apart and opened it and found in it food of the best. So he ate his fill and refreshed himself and drank waterafter which he hung the budget up in its place and drawing the eunuch's sword from its sheathtook itwhilst the latter slept onknowing not whence destiny should come to him. Then the prince fared on into the palacetill he came to another doorwith a curtain drawn before it；so he raised the curtain and enteringsaw a couch of ivoryinlaid with pearls and jacinths and jewelsand four slave-girls sleeping about it. He went up to the couchto see what was thereinand found a young lady lying asleepveiled with her hairas she were the full moon at its risingwith flower-white forehead and shining parting and cheeks like blood-red anemones and dainty moles thereon.
When he saw thishe was amazed at her beauty and grace and symmetry and recked no more of death. So he went up to her，trembling in every nerveand kissed her on the right cheek；whereupon she awoke forthright and seeing the prince standing at her headsaid to him'Who art thou and whence comest thou？'
Quoth he'I am thy slave and thy lover.'And who brought thee hither？'asked she. 'My Lord and my fortune，'answered he；and she said'Belike thou art he who demanded me yesterday of my father in marriage and he rejected theepretending that thou wast foul of favour. By Allah he liedwhen he spoke this thing，for thou art not other than handsome.'
Now the son of the King of Hind had sought her in marriagebut her father had rejected himfor that he was ill-favouredand she thought the prince was he. Sowhen she saw his beauty and gracefor indeed he was like the radiant moon，her heart was taken in the snare of his loveas it were a flaming fireand they fell to talk and converse. Presently，her waiting-women awoke from their sleep and seeing the prince sitting with their mistresssaid to her'O my ladywho is this with thee？'Quoth she'I know not；I found him sitting by mewhen I awoke. Belike it is he who seeks me in marriage of my father.'O my lady，'answered they'by the Most Great God，this is not he who seeks thee in marriagefor he is foul and this man is fair and of high condition. Indeedthe other is not fit to be his servant.'
Then they went out to the eunuch and finding him asleepawoke himand he started up in alarm. Quoth they'How comes it that thou art guardian of the palace and yet men come in to us，whilst we are asleep？'When the eunuch heard thishe sprang in haste to his swordbut found it notand fear took him and trembling. Then he went inconfoundedto his mistress and seeing the prince sitting talking with hersaid to the former，'O my lordart thou a man or a genie？'O it on theeO unluckiest of slaves！'replied the prince. 'How darest thou even a prince of the sons of the Chosros with one of the unbelieving Satans？'Then he took the sword in his hand and said'I am the King's son-in-lawand he hath married me to his daughter and bidden me go in to her.'O my lord，'replied the eunuch'if thou be indeed a manas thou avouchestshe is fit for none but theeand thou art worthier of her than any other.'
Then he ran to the Kingshrieking out and rending his clothes and casting dust upon his head；and when the King heard his outcryhe said to him'What has befallen thee？ Speak quickly and be brief；for thou troublest my heart.'O King，'answered the eunuch'come to thy daughter's succour；for a devil of the Jinnin the likeness of a king's sonhath gotten possession of her；so up and at him！'When the King heard thishe thought to kill him and said'How camest thou to be careless of my daughter and let this demon come at her？'Then he betook himself to the princess's palacewhere he found her women standing[awaiting him] and said to them'What is come to my daughter？'O King，'answered they'sleep overcame us and when we awokewe found a young man sitting talking with heras he were the full moonnever saw we a fairer of favour than he. So we questioned him of his case and he avouched that thou hadst given him thy daughter in marriage. More than this we know not，nor do we know if he be a man or a genie；but he is modest and well bredand doth nothing unseemly.'
