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Then he smote her a second time and cut her in twain and cast her

to the ground in two halves. After which he fared forth and found

the young man, now freed from the spell, awaiting him and gave

him joy of his happy release while the Prince kissed his hand

with abundant thanks. Quoth the King, "Wilt thou abide in this

city or go with me to my capital?" Quoth the youth, "O King of

the age, wottest thou not what journey is between thee and thy

city?" "Two days and a half," answered he, whereupon said the

other, "An thou be sleeping, O King, awake! Between thee and thy

city is a year's march for a well girt walker, and thou haddest

not come hither in two days and a half save that the city was

under enchantment. And I, O King, will never part from thee; no,

not even for the twinkling of an eye." The King rejoiced at his

words and said, "Thanks be to Allah who hath bestowed thee upon

me!