Then he went up to her and kissed the earth before her，whereupon she raised her eyes to him and finding him exceeding foul of face and favoursaid'Who art thou？'O my lady，'answered he'I am sent by the princewho hath bidden me bring thee to another gardennearer the city；for that my lady the queen cannot go so far a journey and is unwillingof her joy in theethat another should forestall her with thee.'Where is the prince？'asked she；and the Persian replied'He is in the citywith his fatherand will presently come for thee in great state.'O fellow，'said she'could he find none to send to me but thee？'At this he laughed and answered'O my lady，let not the ugliness of my face and the foulness of my favour deceive thee. Hadst thou profited of me as hath the prince，thou wouldst praise my affair. Indeedhe chose me as his messenger to theebecause of my uncomeliness and forbidding aspectin his jealousy and love of thee： else hath he slaves and pages and servantswhite and blackout of numbereach goodlier than the other.'When she heard thisit commended itself to her reason and she believed him；so she rose and putting her hand in hissaid'O my fatherwhat hast thou brought me to ride？'O my lady，'answered he'thou shalt ride the horse thou camest on.'Quoth she'I cannot ride it by myself.'Whereupon he smiled and knew that she was in his power and said'I myself will ride with thee.'So he mounted and taking her up behind himbound her fast to himselffor she knew not what he would with her. Then he turned the peg of ascentwhereupon the belly of the horse became full of wind and it swayed to and fro and rose with them into the air nor slackened in its flighttill it was out of sight of the city.
When the princess saw thisshe said to him'O fellowwhat didst thou tell me of the princethat he sent thee to me？'
'Foul befall the prince！'answered the Persian. 'He is a scurril knave.'And she said'Out on thee！ How darest thou disobey thy lord's commandment！'He is no lord of mine，'rejoined the Persian. 'Knowst thou who I am？'I know nothing of thee，'replied the princess'save what thou toldest me.'