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lions of brass like unto gold, and sitting down by a lake, rested awhile. As for Alaeddin, he rejoiced and was exceeding glad and fell a-jesting with the Maugrabin and making merry with him, as he were his uncle in very deed. Then the latter arose and loosing his girdle, brought out therefrom a bag full of victual and fruit and the like and said to Alaeddin, “O son of my brother, thou art maybe anhungred; come, eat what thou wilt.” So Alaeddin proceeded to eat and the Maugrabin with him and they were gladdened and refreshed and their souls were cheered. Then said the Maugrabin, “Rise, O my son, an thou be rested, so we may walk a little and fare onward.”[1] So Alaeddin arose and the Maugrabin walked on with him from garden to garden till they had passed them all and came to a high mountain.[2]
Now Alaeddin had never gone forth the gate of the city nor in all his life had he walked the like of that walk; so he said to the Maugrabin, “O my uncle, whither are we going? See, we have left all the gardens behind us and are come to the foot of a mountain.[3] If the way be
