They brought him a horse , fleet as the breeze of the dawn ; he set his willing foot in the stirrup of safety and rode off . As the days went by the thorn of love rankled in his heart , and he became the very example of lovers , and grew faint and feeble . At last his confidants searched his heart and lifted the veil from the face of his love , and then set the matter before his father , King Saman-lal-posh . ` Your son , Prince Tahmasp , loves distractedly the Princess Mihr-afruz , daughter of King Quimus , son of Timus . ' Then they told the king all about her and her doings . A mist of sadness clouded the king 's mind , and he said to his son : ` If this thing is so , I will in the first place send a courier with friendly letters to King Quimus , and will ask the hand of his daughter for you . I will send an abundance of gifts , and a string of camels laden with flashing stones and rubies of Badakhsham In this way I will bring her and her suite , and I will give her to you to be your solace . But if King Quimus is unwilling to give her to you , I will pour a whirlwind of soldiers upon him , and I will bring to you , in this way , that most consequential of girls . ' But the prince said that this plan would not be right , and that he would go himself , and would answer the riddle . Then the king 's wise men said : ` This is a very weighty matter ; it would be best to allow the prince to set out accompanied by some persons in whom you have confidence . Maybe he will repent and come back . ' So King Saman ordered all preparations for the journey to be made , and then Prince Tahmasp took his leave and set out , accompanied by some of the courtiers , and taking with him a string of two-humped and raven-eyed camels laden with jewels , and gold , and costly stuffs . By stage after stage , and after many days ' journeying , he arrived at the city of King Quimus . What did he see ? A towering citadel whose foot kept firm the wrinkled earth , and whose battlements touched the blue heaven . He saw hanging from its battlements many heads , but it had not the least effect upon him that these were heads of men of rank ; he listened to no advice about laying aside his fancy , but rode up to the gate and on into the heart of the city . The place was so splendid that the eyes of the ages have never seen its like , and there , in an open square , he found a tent of crimson satin set up , and beneath it two jewelled drums with jewelled sticks . These drums were put there so that the suitors of the princess might announce their arrival by beating on them , after which some one would come and take them to the king 's presence . The sight of the drums stirred the fire of Prince Tahmasp 's love . He dismounted , and moved towards them ; but his companions hurried after and begged him first to let them go and announce him to the king , and said that then , when they had put their possessions in a place of security , they would enter into the all important matter of the princess .
The prince , however , replied that he was there for one thing only ; that his XXXXX duty was to beat the drums and announce himself as a suitor , when he would be taken , as such , to the king , who would then give him proper lodgment .
Badakhsham Mihr-afruz Quimus Saman-lal-posh Tahmasp confidants days first right stuffs