The princess then said: "Is that what brings you here? And it was to
you that the King intrusted me on account of your great age, and as if
you were my father. It was in you that he put all his confidence that
you would take us safely, me and my children, to my venerable father,
King Haroun-er-Raschid. What must be your nature, that you should so
betray his trust?"
The wretched minister replied: "If you refuse to marry me, I will kill
your children."
"Never," said the princess, "never shall I consent to marry you. And if
you kill my children, what can I do against the decree of God, save to
invoke his name?"
The minister killed one of the children. When it was dead, he made the
same demand on the princess for the second time, and she answered:
"Never shall I consent to marry you."
The minister said: "If you refuse, I shall kill another of your
children."
The Princess Djouher-Manikam answered: "If you slay my child, it is by
the decree of God, and I submit to his will."
The minister killed the second child.
"No," repeated the princess. "Never shall I consent to wed you."