When King Quimus heard of the approach of such a great company , he sent out his wazir to give the prince honourable meeting , and to ask what had procured him the favour of the visit . The prince sent back word that he had no thought of war , but he wrote : ` Learn and know , King Quimus , that I am here to end the crimes of your insolent daughter who has tyrannously done to death many kings and kings sons , and has hung their heads on your citadel . I am here to give her the answer to her riddle . ' Later on he entered the city , beat boldly on the drums , and was conducted to the presence . The king entreated him to have nothing to do with the riddle , for that no man had come out of it alive . ' O king ! ' replied the prince , ` it is to answer it that I am here ; I will not withdraw . ' Mihr-afruz was told that one man more had staked his head on her question , and that this was one who said he knew the answer . At the request of the prince , all the officers and notables of the land were summoned to hear his reply to the princess . All assembled , and the king and his queen Gul-rakh , and the girl and the prince were there . The prince addressed Mihr-afruz : ` What is the question you ask ? ' ` What did the rose do to the cypress ? ' she rejoined . The prince smiled , and turned and addressed the assembly . ` You who are experienced men and versed in affairs , did you ever know or hear and see anything of this matter ? ' ` No ! ' they answered , ` no one has ever known or heard or seen aught about it ; it is an empty fancy . ' ` From whom , then , did the princess hear of it ? This empty fancy it is that has done many a servant of God to death ! ' All saw the good sense of his words and showed their approval .
Then he turned to the princess : ` Tell us the truth , XXXXX ; who told you of this thing ?
answer death girl man matter presence princess thought visit word