Marzavan was rejoiced, and set out at once for Prince Camaralzaman's residence. The ship on which he embarked¹ had a prosperous voyage till she got within sight of the capital of King Schahzaman, but when just about to enter the harbour she suddenly struck on a rock, and foundered² within sight of the palace where the prince was living with his father and the grand-vizir（元老，高官）. 

 

Marzavan, who swam well, threw himself into the sea and managed to land close to the palace, where he was kindly³ received, and after having a change of clothing given him was brought before the grand-vizir. The vizir was at once attracted by the young man's superior air and intelligent conversation, and perceiving that he had gained much experience in the course of his travels, he said, "Ah, how I wish you had learnt some secret which might enable you to cure a malady⁴（弊病） which has plunged⁵ this court into affliction for some time past!" 

 

Marzavan replied that if he knew what the illness was he might possibly be able to suggest a remedy, on which the vizir related to him the whole history of Prince Camaralzaman. 

 

On hearing this Marzavan rejoiced inwardly, for he felt sure that he had at last discovered the object of the Princess Badoura's infatuation（迷恋，醉心）. However, he said nothing, but begged to be allowed to see the prince. 

 

On entering the royal apartment the first thing which struck him was the prince himself, who lay stretched out on his bed with his eyes closed. The king sat near him, but, without paying any regard to his presence, Marzavan exclaimed, "Heavens! what a striking likeness⁶!" And, indeed, there was a good deal of resemblance between the features of Camaralzaman and those of the Princess of China. 

 

These words caused the prince to open his eyes with languid curiosity, and Marzavan seized this moment to pay him his compliments, contriving⁷ at the same time to express the condition of the Princess of China in terms unintelligible⁸, indeed, to the Sultan and his vizir, but which left the prince in no doubt that his visitor could give him some welcome information. 

 

The prince begged his father to allow him the favour of a private interview with Marzavan, and the king was only too pleased to find his son taking an interest in anyone or anything. As soon as they were left alone Marzavan told the prince the story of the Princess Badoura and her sufferings, adding, "I am convinced that you alone can cure her; but before starting on so long a journey you must be well and strong, so do your best to recover as quickly as may be." 

 

These words produced a great effect on the prince, who was so much cheered by the hopes held out that he declared he felt able to get up and be dressed. The king was overjoyed at the result of Marzavan's interview, and ordered public rejoicings in honour of the prince's recovery. 

 

Before long the prince was quite restored to his original state of health, and as soon as he felt himself really strong he took Marzavan aside and said: 

 

"Now is the time to perform your promise. I am so impatient to see my beloved princess once more that I am sure I shall fall ill again if we do not start soon. The one obstacle is my father's tender care of me, for, as you may have noticed, he cannot bear me out of his sight." 

 

"Prince," replied Marzavan, "I have already thought over the matter, and this is what seems to me the best plan. You have not been out of doors since my arrival. Ask the king's permission to go with me for two or three days' hunting, and when he has given leave order two good horses to be held ready for each of us. Leave all the rest to me." 

 

Next day the prince seized a favourable⁹ opportunity for making his request, and the king gladly granted it on condition that only one night should be spent out for fear of too great fatigue¹⁰（疲劳） after such a long illness. 

 

Next morning Prince Camaralzaman and Marzavan were off betimes, attended by two grooms¹¹ leading the two extra horses. They hunted a little by the way, but took care to get as far from the towns as possible. At night-fall they reached an inn, where they supped and slept till midnight. Then Marzavan awoke and roused the prince without disturbing anyone else. He begged the prince to give him the coat he had been wearing and to put on another which they had brought with them. They mounted their second horses, and Marzavan led one of the grooms' horses by the bridle¹²（缰绳）. 

 

By daybreak our travellers found themselves where four cross roads met in the middle of the forest. Here Marzavan begged the prince to wait for him, and leading the groom's horse into a dense¹³ part of the wood he cut its throat, dipped the prince's coat in its blood, and having rejoined the prince threw the coat on the ground where the roads parted. #p#分页标题#e#

 

In answer to Camaralzaman's inquiries¹⁴ as to the reason for this, Marzavan replied that the only chance they had of continuing their journey was to divert attention by creating the idea of the prince's death. "Your father will doubtless be plunged in the deepest grief," he went on, "but his joy at your return will be all the greater." 

 

The prince and his companion now continued their journey by land and sea, and as they had brought plenty of money to defray their expenses they met with no needless delays. At length they reached the capital of China, where they spent three days in a suitable lodging¹⁵ to recover from their fatigues¹⁶. 

 

During this time Marzavan had an astrologer's dress prepared for the prince. They then went to the baths, after which the prince put on the astrologer's robe and was conducted within sight of the king's palace by Marzavan, who left him there and went to consult his mother, the princess's nurse. 

 

Meantime the prince, according to Marzavan's instructions, advanced close to the palace gates and there proclaimed aloud: 

 

"I am an astrologer and I come to restore health to the Princess Badoura, daughter of the high and mighty¹⁷ King of China, on the conditions laid down by His Majesty¹⁸ of marrying her should I succeed, or of losing my life if I fail." 

 

It was some little time since anyone had presented himself to run the terrible risk involved in attempting to cure the princess, and a crowd soon gathered round the prince. On perceiving his youth, good looks, and distinguished¹⁹ bearing, everyone felt pity for him. 

 

"What are you thinking of, sir," exclaimed some; "why expose yourself to certain death? Are not the heads you see exposed on the town wall sufficient warning? For mercy's sake give up this mad idea and retire whilst you can." 

 

But the prince remained firm, and only repeated his cry with greater assurance, to the horror of the crowd. 

 

"He is resolved to die!" they cried; "may heaven have pity on him!" 

 

Camaralzaman now called out for the third time, and at last the grand-vizir himself came out and fetched him in. 

 

The prime minister led the prince to the king, who was much struck by the noble air of this new adventurer, and felt such pity for the fate so evidently in store for him, that he tried to persuade the young man to renounce²⁰ his project. 

 

But Camaralzaman politely yet firmly persisted in his intentions, and at length the king desired the eunuch（太监） who had the guard of the princess's apartments to conduct the astrologer to her presence. 

 

The eunuch led the way through long passages, and Camaralzaman followed rapidly, in haste to reach the object of his desires. At last they came to a large hall which was the ante-room to the princess's chamber, and here Camaralzaman said to the eunuch:

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