was celebrated a few days after with great magnificence.
Prince Houssain would not honor the feast with his presence. His love for the princess was so sincere and ardent that he could scarcely support with patience the mortification of seeing her marry Prince Ali, who, he said, did not deserve her better nor love her more than himself. In short, his grief was so great that he left the court, and renounced all right of succession to the crown, to turn dervish, and put himself under the discipline of a famous holy man, who had gained great reputation for his holy life.
Prince Ahmed, from the same motive, did not assist at Prince Ali and the Princess Nouronnihar's nuptials any more than his brother Houssain, yet did not renounce the world as he had done. But as he could not imagine what had become of his arrow, he resolved to search for it. With this intent he went to the place where the Princess Houssain's and Ali's were picked up, and proceeding straightforward thence, looked carefully on both sides as he advanced. He went so far that at last he began to think
