The Brown Fairy Book, part 5 · page 21 2101A flame kindled in my heart, and I asked myself where she could go and what she could do.102I told the groom to be silent, and when next Gul took a horse from the stable to saddle another quickly and bring it to me.103That day I did not hunt, but stayed at home to follow the matter up.104I lay down as usual at night and pretended to fall asleep.105When I seemed safely off Gul got up and went to the stable as her custom was.106That night it was Tiger’s turn.107She rode off on him, and I took Windfoot and followed.108With me went that dog you see, a faithful friend who never left me.109“When I came to the foot of those hills which lie outside the city I saw Gul dismount and go towards a house which some negroes have built there.110Over against the door was a high seat, and on it lay a giant negro, before whom she salaamed.111He got up and beat her till she was marked with weals, but she uttered no complaint.112I was dumfounded, for once when I had struck her with a rose stalk she had complained and fretted for three days!113Then the negro said to her: ‘How now, ugly one and shaven head!checked by a teacher114Why are you so late, and why are you not wearing wedding garments?’115She answered him: ‘That person did not go to sleep quickly, and he stayed at home all day, so that I was not able to adorn myself.116I came as soon as I could.’117In a little while he called her to sit beside him; but this was more than I could bear.118I lost control of myself and rushed upon him.119He clutched my collar and we grappled in a death struggle.120Suddenly she came behind me, caught my feet and threw me.121While he held me on the ground, she drew out my own knife and gave it to him.122I should have been killed but for that faithful dog which seized his throat and pulled him down and pinned him to the ground.123Then I got up and despatched the wretch.124There were four other negroes at the place; three I killed and the fourth got away, and has taken refuge beneath the throne of Mihr-afruz, daughter of King Quimus.125I took Gul back to my palace, and from that time till now I have treated her as a dog is treated, and I have cared for my dog as though it were my wife.126Now you know what the rose did to the cypress; and now you must keep compact with me.”127“I shall keep my word,” said the prince; “but may a little water be taken to the roof so that I may make my last ablution?”128To this request the king consented.129The prince mounted to the roof, and, getting into a corner, struck his fire-steel and burned one of the Sirurgh’s feathers in the flame.130Straightway it appeared, and by the majesty of its presence made the city quake.131It took the prince on its back and soared away to the zenith.132After a time King Sinaubar said: “That young man is a long time on the roof; go and bring him here.”133But there was no sign of the prince upon the roof; only, far away in the sky, the Simurgh was seen carrying him off.134When the king heard of his escape he thanked heaven that his hands were clean of this blood.135Up and up flew the Simurgh, till earth looked like an egg resting on an ocean.136At length it dropped straight down to its own place, where the kind prince was welcomed by the young birds and most hospitably entertained.137He told the whole story of the rose and the cypress, and then, laden with gifts which the Simurgh had gathered from cities far and near, he set his face for the Castle of Clashing Swords.138The king-lion came out to meet him; he took the negro chief’s daughter—-whose name was also Gul—in lawful marriage, and then marched with her and her possessions and her attendants to the Place of Gifts.139Here they halted for a night, and at dawn said good-bye to the king-lion and set out for Jamila’s country.1 2← previousThe Brown Fairy Book, part 4next →The Brown Fairy Book, part 6↑ back to The Brown Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/5/page/2/