The Gay Icon Classics of the World by Robert Joseph Greene Page A

The king, so proud of his son,and seeing how he was growing into such a brave and dashing figure, awarded him with a castle. “With this castle, you will build your harem,” said the king. The prince thanked his father and bowed his head low in the king’s honor, but the bow also served to hide the tears that crept from the young prince's eyes. The prince knew that a harem could not fill his empty heart.
    One day when Prince Asfar felt he could bear the pain no longer, the young prince confided in an old tutor. He told him of his longing for his childhood servant Ahmed. The old tutor was wise and had traveled many miles in his years. In his lifetime, he had taught several young princes and princesses in many faraway lands. He knew that the young prince spoke of love, and had heard of this love before from another prince in a distant realm. The wise old tutor told the young prince that love knows no boundaries and he knew of another prince like Prince Asfar. The wise old tutor said that the young prince lived in another kingdom across the great desert, over the mountain, on the other side of the sea.
    Prince Asfar’s longing for this prince was so great that he quickly sold all his worldly possessions, including his newly-awarded palace, to buy provisions for the long journey that lay so ahead. The prince also bought three of the finest jewels in all of Arabia: an emerald, a diamond, and a ruby. “With these jewels, I will pledge my love to this foreign prince,” said Prince Asfar.
    The prince was to join a caravan that would make the long journey across the desert. It was departing from a neighboring town only a day’s journey from the palace. PrinceAsfar was within 3 hours’ reach of the caravan when he came upon a peasant woman laying in the sand in grave pain. The peasant woman realized it was the great Arabian prince and called out for his help. “Help me, great prince. I have been so loyal to your father and his kingdom.” The prince pondered whether to help her now or send someone from town. He knew that if he were to help her, he would miss his caravan. He also knew that should he send someone from town, it would be many hours before the old peasant would be reached, and she might die. The prince was a compassionate prince and quickly got off his camel to help her. He carried her to a doctor on the outskirts of town. The doctor was too busy to aid the ailing peasant woman. “Leave her to die, for she is just a peasant, and cannot pay me for her life,” said the busy doctor. The prince quickly reached into his pocket and offered the doctor a ruby for payment. The doctor eagerly took the ruby and attended to the peasant woman. Prince Asfar stayed by her side, missing his caravan. He kept her company for many days while she recovered. He even confided in her about his great journey. When she was well enough, she told the prince that she knew of a better route through the desert, and shared her knowledge in appreciation for all that he had done.
    Now, it was lucky for the prince that he had came upon the peasant woman when he did. Had he been with the caravan, he would have perished with them in a great sand storm. The route suggested to Prince Asfar by the old peasant woman was much more difficult than his original path, yet the prince traveled tirelessly day and night, with very little sleep. He made the treacherous journey with another caravan across the great desert, over the mountain, to the other side of the sea within three months’ time.
    As he impatiently entered into the great gates of the foreign kingdom, he came upon a guard beating and dragging a poor young lad to a noose that hung nearby. Prince Asfar looked closely at the lad and realized that it was former childhood servant, Ahmed. The prince grabbed the guard and demanded an explanation for such punishment. The guard said that Ahmed was a thief and was to be put to death. Prince Asfar turned to the