He took the money joyfully and opening the door， admitted me into the garden and carried me to a pleasant spot， where he bade me sit down and await his return. Then he brought me fruit and leaving me， returned after awhile with a roasted lamb， of which we ate till we had enough， my heart yearning the while for a sight of the princess. Presently， as we sat， the postern opened and the keeper said to me， "Rise and hide thyself." I did so； and behold a black eunuch put out his head through the wicket and said， "O elder， is there any one with thee？" "No，" answered he；
and the eunuch said， "Shut the garden gate." So the keeper shut the gate， and the lady Dunya came in by the private door. When I saw her， methought the moon had risen above the horizon and was shining； so I looked at her a long while and longed for her， as a man athirst longs for water. After a time she withdrew and shut the door； whereupon I left the garden and sought my lodging，knowing that I could not win to her and that I was no mate for her， more by token that I was become like unto a woman， having no manly gear， and she was a king"s daughter and I but a merchant；
so how could I have access to the like of her or to any other woman？ Accordingly， when my companions made ready for departure，I too made ready and set out with them， and we journeyed till we arrived at this place， where we met with thee. This then is my story， and peace be on thee！"
When Taj el Mulouk heard the young merchant"s account of the princess Dunya and her beauty， fires raged in his bosom and his heart and thought were occupied with love for her； passion and longing were sore upon him and he knew not what to do. Then he mounted his horse and taking Aziz with him， returned to his father"s capital， where he assigned the merchant a house and supplied him with all that he needed in the way of meat and drink and clothing. Then he left him and returned to his palace， with the tears running down his cheeks， for report [whiles] stands in stead of sight and very knowledge. He abode thus till his father came in to him and finding him pale-faced， lean of body and tearful eyed， knew that some chagrin had betided him and said to him， "O my son， acquaint me with thy case and tell me what hath befallen thee， that thy colour is changed and thy body wasted."
So he told him all that had passed and how he had heard from Aziz of the princess Dunya and had fallen in love with her on hearsay， without having set eyes on her. "O my son，" said the King， "she is the daughter of a king whose country is far distant from ours： so put away this thought from thee and go into thy mother"s palace. There are five hundred damsels like moons， and whichsoever of them pleaseth thee， take her； or else we will seek thee in marriage some one of the kings" daughters，fairer than the lady Dunya." "O my father，" answered Taj el Mulouk， "I desire none other， for she it is who wrought the gazelles that I saw， and I must have her； else I will flee into the deserts and waste places and slay myself for her sake." Then said his father， "O my son， have patience with me， till I send to her father and demand her hand in marriage， as I did with thy mother. It may be that God will bring thee to thy desire； and if her father will not consent， I will shake his kingdom under him with an army， whose van shall be upon him， whilst the rear is yet with me." Then he sent for Aziz and said to him， "O my son， dost thou know the way to the Camphor Islands？" "Yes，" answered he；
and the King said， "It is my wish that thou accompany my Vizier thither." "I hear and obey， O King of the age，" replied Aziz；
whereupon the King summoned his Vizier and said to him， "Devise me some plan， whereby my son"s affair may be rightly managed， and go to the King of the Camphor Islands and demand his daughter in marriage for Tej el Mulouk." "I hear and obey，" answered the Vizier. Then Taj el Mulouk returned to his dwelling place and his longing redoubled and impatience and unease were sore upon him；
and when the night darkened upon him， he wept and sighed and complained and repeated the following verses：
The shadows darken and my tears flow aye without avail， Whilst in my heart the fires of love rage on and never fail.
Question the nights of me， and they will testify to thee That I in all their endless hours do nought but weep and wait.
Wakeful for love-longing and grief， I lie and watch the stars All night， what while upon my cheeks the tears fall down like hail.
Lowly and helpless I abide， for such as lovers be Have， as it were， nor kith nor kin to help them in their bale.
Then he swooned away and did not recover his senses till the morning， when there came to him one of his father"s servants and standing at his head， summoned him to the King"s presence. So he went with him， and his father seeing that his pallor had increased， exhorted him to patience and promised him union with her he loved. Then he equipped Aziz and the Vizier for the journey and gave them presents for the princess"s father； and they set out and fared on night and day， till they drew near the Camphor Islands， when the Vizier called a halt on the banks of a stream and despatched a messenger to acquaint the King of his arrival. The messenger had not long been gone， when they saw，advancing towards them， the King"s chamberlains and amirs， who met them at a parasang"s distance from the city and escorted them to the royal presence. They laid before the King the gifts with which they were charged and enjoyed his hospitality three days.
On the fourth day the Vizier rose and going in to the King， stood before him and acquainted him with the object of his visit；