' Then he rose
and embracing them, enquired how they had loosed their bonds and
come thither, whereupon they told him how the bonds of one of
them had fallen loose and he had unbound the other, that they
might quit their intent, and how they had followed his track till
they came upon him. He thanked them for their deed and went with
them forth of the wood, where they said to him, 'O uncle, do our
father's bidding.' 'God forbid,' answered he, 'that I should
draw near to you with hurt! I mean to take your clothes and
clothe you with mine; then will I fill two vials with the lion's
blood and go back to the King and tell him I have put you to
death. But as for you, fare ye forth into the lands, for God's
earth is wide; and know, O my lords, that it irks me to part from
you.' At this, they all fell a-weeping; then the two youths put
off their clothes and the treasurer covered them with his own.
Moreover, he filled two vials with the lion's blood and making
two parcels of the princes' clothes, set them before him on his
horse's back. Then he took leave of them and making his way back
to the city, went in to King Kemerezzeman and kissed the earth
before him. The King saw him pale and troubled and deeming this
came of the slaughter of the two princes (though in truth it came
of his adventure with the lion) rejoiced and said to him, 'Hast
thou done the business?' 'Yes, O our lord,' answered the
treasurer and gave him the two parcels of clothes and the two
vials of blood.
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