After this another and another of my sons were seized by the same desire , and in the end all my seven sons went , and all were killed . In grief for their death I have abandoned my throne , and I abide here in this desert , withholding my hand from all State business and wearing myself away in sorrow . ' Prince Tahmasp listened to this tale , and then the arrow of love for that unseen girl struck his heart also . Just at this moment of his ill-fate his people came up , and gathered round him like moths round a light . 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 XXXXX 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 .
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