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And he wept before the King, who had pity on him and wrote royal

autographs to his deputies in all climes [FN#452] and countries

and cities; whereat the Wazir rejoiced and prayed for blessings

on him. Then, taking leave of his Sovereign, he returned to his

house, where he equipped himself and his daughter and his adopted

child Ajib, with all things meet for a long march; and set out

and travelled the first day and the second and the third and so

forth till he arrived at Damascus-city. He found it a fair place

abounding in trees and streams, even as the poet said of it:-

When I nighted and dayed in Damascus town, * Time sware such

another he ne'er should view: And careless we slept under wing of

night, * Till dappled Morn 'gan her smiles renew: And dew-drops

on branch in their beauty hung, * Like pearls to be dropt when

the Zephyr blew: And the Lake [FN#453] was the page where birds

read and note, * And the clouds set points to what breezes wrote.