meet the Padishah. The first thing he will do will be to invite thee to the palace, but beware lest thou accept his invitation." And so indeed it turned out. Scarcely had he taken a turn in the wood than the Padishah stood before him, and, one word leading to another, he invited the youth to his palace, but the youth would not go.
Early next morning the Peri awoke the children, clapped her hands together and called her Lala,[1] and immediately a huge negro sprang up before them. So big was he that one of his lips touched the sky while the other swept the earth. "What dost thou command me, my Sultana?" cried the Lala.
"Fetch me hither my father's steed!" commanded the Peri.
The negro vanished like a hurricane, and, a moment afterwards, the steed stood before them, and the like of it was not to be found in the wide world.
The youth leaped upon the horse, and the splendid suite of the Padishah was already waiting for him at the roadside.
But—O Allah, forgive me!—I have forgotten the best of the story. The Peri charged the youth as he quitted her to take heed, while he was in the palace of the Padishah, to the neighing of his horse. At the first neighing he was to hasten back.
- ↑ Counsellor.
