105
us purify ourselves and make fumigations, to the intent that Bediya el Jemal and her mother may come and see me and rejoice in me.’ ‘With all my heart,’ answered the queen and rising, betook herself to the garden and burnt of the perfumes [which Bediya’s mother had given her to that intent]; nor was it long before Bediya el Jemal and her mother made their appearance.
The Queen of Hind foregathered with the other queen and acquainted her with her daughter’s safe return, whereat she rejoiced; and Bediya el Jemal and Dauleh Khatoun foregathered likewise and rejoiced in each other. Then they pitched the pavilions and dressed rich meats and made ready the place of entertainment; whilst the two princesses withdrew to a tent apart and ate and drank and made merry together; after which they sat down to converse, and Bediya said, ‘What hath befallen thee in thy strangerhood?’ ‘O my sister,’ replied Dauleh Khatoun, ‘ask me not what hath befallen me. Alas, what hardships mortals suffer!’ ‘How so?’ asked Bediya. So she told her how the son of the Blue King had carried her off to the Castle of Japhet son of Noah and how Seif el Mulouk had slain the genie and brought her back to her father; and she told her also all that the prince had undergone of hardships and terrors, before he came to the castle.
Bediya marvelled at her story and said, ‘O my sister, this is a wonder of wonders! By Allah, this Seif el Mulouk is indeed a man! But why did he leave his father and mother and betake himself to travel and expose himself to these perils?’ Quoth Dauleh Khatoun, ‘I have a mind to tell thee the first part of his story; but shame of thee hinders me therefrom.’ Quoth Bediya, ‘Why shouldst thou have shame of me, seeing that thou art my sister and my friend and there is much between thee and me and I know thou seekest me nought but
