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At night, Urad was shown a glorious apartment to rest in, and the son of Houadir attended her. "My dear Houadir," said Urad, "when shall I behold your proper shape? When shall I see you as my tutelary genius?"
And Urad, finding her spirits somewhat recovered, hastened out of the hut, and perceived that it was morning. She had now no more peppercorns to depend upon; wherefore she cried to Houadir to succour her; but the genius was deaf to her entreaties. "Poor miserable wretch!" said Urad to herself, "what will become of thee, inclosed in a forest through which thou knowest no path?
Urad arose with trembling, and asked who was there. "It is one," answered a voice in the softest tone, "who seeketh comfort and cannot find it; who desires peace, and it is far from him."
"My sorrows indeed hitherto," replied Urad, "have prevented my labour; but to-morrow I shall again rise to my wonted employment." "But even to-night," said Lahnar, "let my friend take some little nourishment, that she may rise refreshed; for fasting will deject you as well as grief; and suffer me to partake with you.
A lion furiously made at him, and tore him limb from limb, while Urad expected the same fate from several others who came roaring around. "But," said she, "better is death than infamy, and the paw of the hungry lion, than slavery to a robber."
I will first, as you have been tried, lead you to the palace of the Genii of the Forest, and present your unspotted innocence before them; for, O my sweet Urad, my heavenly pupil!" said he, kissing and taking her in his arms, "your virtue is tried; I have found you worthy of the lessons which I gave you.
"But, O Houadir, O Nouri!" said the afflicted virgin to herself, "never shall Urad seek, in the arms of a lover, to forget the bounties and precepts of so kind a mistress and so indulgent a parent."
"Alas!" answered Urad, "few are the comforts of this cottage, and peace is a stranger to this mournful roof: depart, O traveller, whosoever thou art, and suffer the disconsolate Urad to indulge in sorrows greater than those from which you wish to be relieved."
"Well, pretty Urad," cried they all, "Darandu will soon be here: he is fishing on the Tigris; and it is but just that the river which has robbed you of one comfort, should give you a better." At this speech, the rest laughed very heartily, and they all ran away, crying out, "Oh, she will do very well when Darandu approaches."
"Know, then, Urad I speak not from myself, but He speaks who, from casual evil, can work out certain good He forces me to declare that no specious appearance, no false colours, should incline the virtuous heart to listen to the wiles of deceit; for evil then comes most terrible when it is cloaked under friendship.
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