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of the prince was complete。
〃Alas！〃 said he； 〃if love be indeed such a delight； and its
interruption such a misery； Allah forbid that I should mar the joy
of any of its votaries。〃 He opened the cage； took out the dove； and
having fondly kissed it； carried it to the window。 〃Go； happy bird；〃
said he； 〃rejoice with the partner of thy heart in the days of youth
and spring…time。 Why should I make thee a fellow…prisoner in this
dreary tower； where love can never enter？〃
The dove flapped its wings in rapture； gave one vault into the
air； and then swooped downward on whistling wings to the blooming
bowers of the Darro。
The prince followed him with his eyes； and then gave way to bitter
repining。 The singing of the birds which once delighted him； now added
to his bitterness。 Love！ love！ love！ Alas； poor youth！ he now
understood the strain。
His eyes flashed fire when next he beheld the sage Bonabben。 〃Why
hast thou kept me in this abject ignorance？〃 cried he。 〃Why has the
great mystery and principle of life been withheld from me； in which
I find the meanest insect is so learned？ Behold all nature is in a
revel of delight。 Every created being rejoices with its mate。 This…
this is the love about which I have sought instruction。 Why am I alone
debarred its enjoyment？ Why has so much of my youth been wasted
without a knowledge of its raptures？〃
The sage Bonabben saw that all further reserve was useless； for
the prince had acquired the dangerous and forbidden knowledge。 He
revealed to him； therefore； the predictions of the astrologers； and
the precautions that had been taken in his education to avert the
threatened evils。 〃And now； my prince；〃 added he； 〃my life is in
your hands。 Let the king your father discover that you have learned
the passion of love while under my guardianship； and my head must
answer for it。〃
The prince was as reasonable as most young men of his age； and
easily listened to the remonstrances of his tutor； since nothing
pleaded against them。 Besides； he really was attached to Eben
Bonabben； and being as yet but theoretically acquainted with the
passion of love； he consented to confine the knowledge of it to his
own bosom； rather than endanger the head of the philosopher。
His discretion was doomed； however； to be put to still further
proofs。 A few mornings afterwards； as he was ruminating on the
battlements of the tower； the dove which had been released by him came
hovering in the air； and alighted fearlessly upon his shoulder。
The prince fondled it to his heart。 〃Happy bird；〃 said he； 〃who
can fly； as it were； with the wings of the morning to the uttermost
parts of the earth。 Where hast thou been since we parted？〃
〃In a far country； my prince； whence I bring you tidings in reward
for my liberty。 In the wild compass of my flight； which extends over
plain and mountain； as I was soaring in the air； I beheld below me a
delightful garden with all kinds of fruits and flowers。 It was in a
green meadow； on the banks of a wandering stream； and in the centre of
the garden was a stately palace。 I alighted in one of the bowers to
repose after my weary flight。 On the green bank below me was a
youthful princess； in the very sweetness and bloom of her years。 She
was surrounded by female attendants； young like herself； who decked
her with garlands and coronets of flowers； but no flower of field or
garden could compare with her for loveliness。 Here； however； she
bloomed in secret； for the garden was surrounded by high walls； and no
mortal man was permitted to enter。 When I beheld this beauteous
maid； thus young and innocent and unspotted by the world； I thought；
here is the being formed by heaven to inspire my prince with love。〃
The description was a spark of fire to the combustible heart of
Ahmed； all the latent amorousness of his temperament had at once found
an object； and he conceived an immeasurable passion for the
princess。 He wrote a letter； couched in the most impassioned language；
breathing his fervent devotion； but bewailing the unhappy thraldom
of his person； which prevented him from seeking her out and throwing
himself at her feet。 He added couplets of the most moving eloquence；
for he was a poet by nature； and inspired by love。 He addressed his
letter… 〃To the unknown beauty； from the captive Prince Ahmed〃；
then； perfuming it with musk and roses； he gave it to the dove。
〃Away； trustiest of messengers！〃 said he。 〃Fly over mountain and
valley； and river； and plain； rest not in bower； nor set foot on
earth； until thou hast given this letter to the mistress of my heart。〃
The dove soared high in air； and taking his course darted away in
one undeviating direction。 The prince followed him with his eye
until he was a mere speck on a cloud； and gradually disappeared behind
a mountain。
Day after day he watched for the return of the messenger of love；
but he watched in vain。 He began to accuse him of forgetfulness；
when towards sunset one evening the faithful bird fluttered into his
apartment； and falling at his feet expired。 The arrow of some wanton
archer had pierced his breast； yet he had struggled with the
lingerings of life to execute his mission。 As the prince bent with
grief over this gentle martyr to fidelity； he beheld a chain of pearls
round his neck； attached to which； beneath his wing； was a small
enamelled picture。 It represented a lovely princess in the very flower
of her years。 It was doubtless the unknown beauty of the garden； but
who and where was she… how had she received his letter； and was this
picture sent as a token of her approval of his passion？
Unfortunately the death of the faithful dove left every thing in
mystery and doubt。
The prince gazed on the picture till his eyes swam with tears。 He
pressed it to his lips and to his heart； he sat for hours
contemplating it almost in an agony of tenderness。 〃Beautiful
image！〃 said he； 〃alas； thou art but an image！ Yet thy dewy eyes
beam tenderly upon me； those rosy lips look as though they would speak
encouragement： vain fancies！ Have they not looked the same on some
more happy rival？ But where in this wide world shall I hope to find
the original？ Who knows what mountains； what realms may separate us；
what adverse chances may intervene？ Perhaps now； even now； lovers
may be crowding around her； while I sit here a prisoner in a tower；
wasting my time in adoration of a painted shadow。〃
The resolution of Prince Ahmed was taken。 〃I will fly from this
palace；〃 said he； 〃which has become an odious prison； and； a pilgrim
of love； will seek this unknown princess throughout the world。〃 To
escape from the tower in the day； when every one was awake； might be a
difficult matter； but at night the palace was slightly guarded； for no
one apprehended any attempt of the kind from the prince； who had
always been so passive in his captivity。 How was he to guide
himself； however； in his darkling flight； being ignorant of the
country？
He bethought him of the owl； who was accustomed to roam at night；
and must know every by…lane and secret pass。 Seeking him in his
hermitage； he questioned him touching his knowledge of the land。
Upon this the owl put on a mighty self…important look。 〃You must know；
O prince；〃 said he； 〃that we owls are of a very ancient and
extensive family； though rather fallen to decay； and possess ruinous
castles and palaces in all parts of Spain。 There is scarcely a tower
of the mountains； or a fortress of the plains； or an old citadel of
a city； but has some brother or uncle； or cousin； quartered in it； and
in going the rounds to visit this my numerous kindred； I have pryed
into every nook and corner； and made myself acquainted with every
secret of the land。〃
The prince was overjoyed to find the owl so deeply versed in
topography； and now informed him； in confidence； of his tender passion
and his intended elopement； urging him to be his companion and
counsellor。
〃Go to！〃 said the owl； with a look of displeasure； 〃am I a bird to
engage in a love affair？ I whose whole time is devoted to meditation
and the moon？〃
〃Be not offended； most solemn owl；〃 replied the prince； 〃abstract
thyself for a time from meditation and the moon； and aid me in my
flight； and thou shalt have whatever heart can wish。〃
〃I have that already；〃 said the owl： 〃a few mice are sufficient
for my frugal table； and this hole in the wall is spacious enough
for my studies； and what more does a philosopher like myself desire？〃
〃Bethink thee； most wise owl； that while moping in thy cell and
gazing at the moon； all thy talents are lost to the world。 I shall one
day be a sovereign prince； and may advance thee to some post of
honor and dignity。〃
The owl； though a philosopher and above the ordinary wants of
life； was not above ambition； so he was finally prevailed on to
elope with the prince； and be his guide and mentor in his pilgrimage。
The plans of a lover are