How shall I go forth against themseeing that I am afoot and they are mounted？'I bade thee mountand thou refusedst，'rejoined the King；'but take which of my horses thou wilt.'But he said'None of thy horses pleases meand I will ride none but that on which I came.'And where is thy horse？'asked the King. 'Atop of thy palace，'answered the princeand the King said'In what part of my palace？'On the roof，'replied the prince. 'Out on thee！'quoth the King. 'This is the first sign thou hast given of madness. How can the horse be on the roof？
But we shall soon see if thou speak truth or falsehood.'Then he turned to one of his chief officers and said to him'Go to my palace and bring me what thou findest on the roof.'And all the people marvelled at the prince's wordssaying'How can a horse come down the steps from the roof？ Verily this is a thing whose like we never heard.'
Meanwhilethe King's messenger repaired to the palace，accompanied by other of the royal officersand mounting to the rooffound the horse standing there，--never had they looked on a handsomer；but when they drew near and examined itthey saw that it was made of ebony and ivory；whereat they laughed to each othersaying'Was it of the like of this horse that the youth spoke？ Surelyhe must be mad；but we shall soon see the truth of his case. Belikethere hangs some great mystery by him.'Then they lifted up the horse and carrying it to the Kingset it down before himand all the people flocked round itstaring at it and marvelling at the beauty of its fashion and the richness of its saddle and bridle. The King also admired it and wondered at it extremely；and he said to the prince'O youthis this thy horse？'YesO King，'answered the prince；'this is my horseand thou shalt soon see wonders of it.'Then take and mount it，'rejoined the Kingand the prince said'I will not mount till the troops withdraw afar from it.'So the King bade them withdraw a bowshot from the horse；whereupon quoth the prince'O KingI am about to mount my horse and charge upon thy troops and scatter them right and left and cleave their hearts in sunder.'Do as thou wilt，'
answered the King；'and spare them notfor they will not spare thee.'Then the prince mountedwhilst the troops ranged themselves in ranks before himand one said to another'When the youth comes between the rankswe will take him on the points of our pikes and the edges of our swords.'By Allah，'quoth another'it were pity to kill so handsome and well-shaped a youth！'By Allah，'rejoined a third'ye will have hard work to get the better of him；for he had not done thisbut for what he knew of his own prowess and valiantise.'
Meanwhilethe princehaving settled himself in his saddle，whilst all eyes were strained to see what he would doturned the peg of ascent；whereupon the horse began to sway to and fro and make the strangest of movementsafter the manner of horsestill its belly was filled with air and it took flight with him and soared into the sky. When the King saw thishe cried out to his mensaying'Out on you！ Take himere he escape you！'But his Viziers and officers said to him'O King，how shall we overtake the flying bird？ This is surely none but some mighty enchanterand God hath saved thee from him. So praise thou the Most High for thy deliverance from his hand.'
Then the King returned to his palace and going in to his daughteracquainted her with what had befallen. He found her sore afflicted for the prince and bewailing her separation from him；wherefore she fell grievously sick and took to her pillow.
When her father saw her thushe pressed her to his bosom and kissing her between the eyessaid to her'O my daughter，praise God and thank Him for that He hath delivered thee from this crafty enchanter！'And he repeated to her the story of the prince's disappearance；but she paid no heed to his word and did but redouble in her tears and lamentationssaying to herself'By AllahI will neither eat nor drinktill God reunite me with him！'Her father was greatly concerned for her plight and mourned sore over her；butfor all he could do to comfort herpassion and love-longing still grew on her for the prince.
Meanwhilethe King's sonwhenas he had risen into the air，turned his horse's head towards his native landmusing upon the beauty and grace of the princess. Now he had enquired of the King's people the name of the princess and of the King her father and of the citywhich was the city of Senaa of Yemen.
So he journeyed homeward with all speedtill he drew near his father's capital and making a circuit about the cityalighted on the roof of the King's palacewhere he left his horsewhilst he descended into the palace and finding its threshold strewn with ashesbethought him that one of his family was dead. Then he enteredas of wontand found his father and mother and sisters clad in mourning raiment of blackpale-faced and lean of body. When his father saw him and was assured that it was indeed his sonhe gave a great cry and fell down in a swoon，but presently coming to himselfthrew himself upon him and embraced himstraining him to his bosom and rejoicing in him exceedingly. His mother and sisters heard this；so they came in and seeing the princefell upon himkissing him and weeping and rejoicing with an exceeding joy. Then they questioned him of his case；so he told them all that had befallen him from first to last and his father said to him'Praised be God for thy safetyO solace of my eyes and life-blood of my heart！'
Then the King bade hold high festivaland the glad news flew through the city. So they beat the drums and the cymbals and putting off the raiment of mourningdonned that of joy and decorated the streets and markets；whilst the folk vied with one another who should be the first to give the King joyand the latter proclaimed a general pardon and opening the prisons，released those who were therein. Moreoverhe made banquets to the people seven days and nights and all creatures were glad；
