Page 189 - Bulbul Hezar

rom the time of Prince Bahman's departure, the princess
Parizade always wore the knife and sheath in her girdle, and
pulled it out several times in a day, to know whether her brother
was alive; and oftentimes she and Prince Perviz, who often asked
her what news, discoursed together on that subject.
On the fatal day that Prince Bahman was metamorphosed into a

stone, as Prince Perviz and the princess were talking together in
the evening, as usual, the prince desired his sister to pull out the
knife, to know how their brother did. The princess pulled out the
knife, and looking upon it, and seeing the blood run down the
point, was seized with so much horror and grief that she threw it
down. Ah! my dear brother, cried she; I have been the cause of
your death, and shall never see you more! How unhappy am I!
Why did I tell you of the talking bird, singing tree, and yellow
water; or rather, what matter of importance was it to me, to

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