to bed, and the old woman took care of me. I kept my bed for four months. At last I recovered. The scars which, contrary to my wish, you saw yesterday, have remained ever since.
As soon as I was able to walk and go abroad, I resolved to retire to the house which was left me by my first husband, but I could not find the site whereon it stood, as my second husband had caused it to be leveled with the ground.
Being thus left destitute and helpless, I went to my dear sister Zobeide. She received me with her accustomed goodness, and advised me to bear with patience my affliction, from which, she said, none are free. In confirmation of her remark, she gave me an account of the loss of the young prince occasioned by the jealousy of her two sisters. She told me also how they were transformed into dogs; and in the last place, after a thousand testimonials of her love toward me, she introduced me to my youngest sister, who had likewise taken sanctuary with her after the death of her mother; and we have continued to live together in the house in which we received the guests whom your highness found assembled on your visit last night.
The caliph expressed his admiration of what he had heard, and inquired of Zobeide, “Madam, did not this fairy whom you delivered, and who imposed such a rigorous command upon you, tell you where her place of abode was or that she would ever restore your sisters to their natural shape?”
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