THE STORY OF THE ENCHANTED HORSE.

The Nooroze, or the new day, which is the first of the year and

spring, is observed as a solemn festival throughout all Persia,

which has been continued from the time of idolatry; and our

prophet's religion, pure as it is, and true as we hold it, has

not been able to abolish that heathenish custom, and the

superstitious ceremonies which are observed, not only in the

great cities, but celebrated with extraordinary rejoicings in

every little town, village, and hamlet.

But the rejoicings are the most splendid at the court, for the

variety of new and surprising spectacles, insomuch that strangers

are invited from the neighbouring states, and the most remote

parts, by the rewards and liberality of the sovereign, towards

those who are the most excellent in their invention and

contrivance. In short, nothing in the rest of the world can

compare with the magnificence of this festival.

One of these festival days, after the most ingenious artists of

the country had repaired to Sheerauz, where the court then

resided, had entertained the king and all the court with their

productions, and had been bountifully and liberally rewarded

according to their merit and to their satisfaction by the

monarch; when the assembly was just breaking up, a Hindoo

appeared at the foot of the throne, with an artificial horse

richly caparisoned, and so naturally imitated, that at first

sight he was taken for a living animal.

The Hindoo prostrated himself before the throne; and pointing to the

horse, said to the emperor, "Though I present myself the last before

your majesty, yet I can assure you that nothing shewn to-day is so

wonderful as this horse, on which I beg your majesty would be pleased

to cast your eyes." "I see nothing more in the horse," said the

emperor, "than the natural resemblance the workman has given him;

which the skill of another workman may possibly execute as well or

better."

"Sir," replied the Hindoo, "it is not for his outward form and

appearance that I recommend my horse to your majesty's

examination as wonderful, but the use to which I can apply him,

and which, when I have communicated the secret to them, any other

persons may make of him. Whenever I mount him, be it where it

may, if I wish to transport myself through the air to the most

distant part of the world, I can do it in a very short time.

This, sir, is the wonder of my horse; a wonder which nobody ever

heard speak of, and which I offer to shew your majesty, if you

command me."

The emperor of Persia, who was fond of every thing that was

curious, and notwithstanding the many prodigies of art he had

seen had never beheld or heard of anything that came up to this,

told the Hindoo, that nothing but the experience of what he

asserted could convince him: and that he was ready to see him

perform what he had promised.

The Hindoo instantly put his foot into the stirrup, mounted his

horse with admirable agility, and when he had fixed himself in

the saddle, asked the emperor whither he pleased to command him.

About three leagues from Sheerauz there was a lofty mountain

discernible from the large square before the palace, where the

emperor, his court, and a great concourse of people, then were.

"Do you see that mountain?" said the emperor, pointing to it; "it

is not a great distance from hence, but it is far enough to judge

of the speed you can make in going and returning. But because it

is not possible for the eye to follow you so far, as a proof that

you have been there, I expect that you will bring me a branch of

a palm-tree that grows at the bottom of the hill."

The emperor of Persia had no sooner declared his will than the

Hindoo turned a peg, which was in the hollow of the horse's neck,

just by the pummel of the saddle; and in an instant the horse

rose off the ground and carried his rider into the air with the

rapidity of lightning to such a height, that those who had the

strongest sight could not discern him, to the admiration of the

emperor and all the spectators. Within less than a quarter of an

hour they saw him returning with the palm branch in his hand; but

before he descended, he took two or three turns in the air over

the spot, amid the acclamations of all the people; then alighted

on the spot whence he had set off, without receiving the least

shock from the horse to disorder him. He dismounted, and going up

to the throne, prostrated himself, and laid the branch of the

palm-tree at the feet of the emperor.

The emperor, who had viewed with no less admiration than

astonishment this unheard-of sight which the Hindoo had

exhibited, conceived a great desire to have the horse; and as he

persuaded himself that he should not find it a difficult matter

to treat with the Hindoo, for whatever sum of money he should

value it at, began to regard it as the most valuable thing in his

treasury. "Judging of thy horse by his outward appearance," said

he to the Hindoo, "I did not think him so much worth my

consideration. As you have shewn me his merits, I am obliged to

you for undeceiving me; and to prove to you how much I esteem it,

I will purchase him of you, if he is to be sold."

"Sir," replied the Hindoo, "I never doubted that your majesty,

who has the character of the most liberal prince on earth, would

set a just value on my work as soon as I had shewn you on what

account he was worthy your attention. I also foresaw that you

would not only admire and commend it, but would desire to have

it. Though I know his intrinsic value, and that my continuing

master of him would render my name immortal in the world; yet I

am not so fond of fame but I can resign him, to gratify your

majesty; however, in making this declaration, I have another to

add, without which I cannot resolve to part with him, and perhaps

you may not approve of it.

"Your majesty will not be displeased," continued the Hindoo, "if

I tell you that I did not buy this horse, but obtained him of the

inventor, by giving him my only daughter in marriage, and

promising at the same time never to sell him; but if I parted

with him to exchange him for something that I should value beyond

all else."

The Hindoo was proceeding, when at the word exchange, the emperor

of Persia interrupted him. "I am willing," said he, "to give you

whatever you may ask in exchange. You know my kingdom is large,

and contains many great, rich, and populous cities; I will give

you the choice of which you like best, in full sovereignty for

life."

This exchange seemed royal and noble to the whole court; but was

much below what the Hindoo had proposed to himself, who had

raised his thoughts much higher. "I am infinitely obliged to your

majesty for the offer you make me," answered he, "and cannot

thank you enough for your generosity; yet I must beg of you not

to be displeased if I have the presumption to tell you, that I

cannot resign my horse, but by receiving the hand of the princess

your daughter as my wife: this is the only price at which I can

part with my property."

The courtiers about the emperor of Persia could not forbear

laughing aloud at this extravagant demand of the Hindoo; but the

prince Firoze Shaw, the eldest son of the emperor, and

presumptive heir to the crown, could not hear it without

indignation. The emperor was of a very different opinion, and

thought he might sacrifice the princess of Persia to the Hindoo,

to satisfy his curiosity. He remained however undetermined,

considering what he should do.

Prince Firoze Shaw, who saw his father hesitated what answer to

make, began to fear lest he should comply with the Hindoo's

demand, and regarded it as not only injurious to the royal

dignity, and to his sister, but also to himself; therefore to

anticipate his father, he said, "Sir, I hope your majesty will

forgive me for daring to ask, if it is possible your majesty

should hesitate about a denial to so insolent a demand from such

an insignificant fellow, and so scandalous a juggler? or give him

reason to flatter himself a moment with being allied to one of

the most powerful monarchs in the world? I beg of you to consider

what you owe to yourself, to your own blood, and the high rank of

your ancestors."

"Son," replied the emperor of Persia, "I much approve of your

remonstrance, and am sensible of your zeal for preserving the

lustre of your birth; but you do not consider sufficiently the

excellence of this horse; nor that the Hindoo, if I should refuse

him, may make the offer somewhere else, where this nice point of

honour may be waived. I shall be in the utmost despair if another

prince should boast of having exceeded me in generosity, and

deprived me of the glory of possessing what I esteem as the most

singular and wonderful thing in the world. I will not say I

consent to grant him what he asked. Perhaps he has not well

considered his exorbitant demand: and putting my daughter the

princess out of the question, I may make another agreement with

him that will answer his purpose as well. But before I conclude

the bargain with him, I should be glad that you would examine the

horse, try him yourself, and give me your opinion."

As it is natural for us to flatter ourselves in what we desire,

the Hindoo fancied, from what he had heard, that the emperor was

not entirely averse to his alliance, and that the prince might

become more favourable to him; therefore, he expressed much joy,

ran before the prince to help him to mount, and shewed him how to

guide and manage the horse.

The prince mounted without the Hindoo's assisting him; and no

sooner had he got his feet in both stirrups, but without staying

for the artist's advice, he turned the peg he had seen him use,

when instantly the horse darted into the air, quick as an arrow

shot out of a bow by the most adroit archer; and in a few moments

the emperor his father and the numerous assembly lost sight of

him. Neither horse nor prince were to be seen. The Hindoo,

alarmed at what had happened, prostrated himself before the

throne, and said, "Your majesty must have remarked the prince was

so hasty, that he would not permit me to give him the necessary

instructions to govern my horse. From what he saw me do, he was

ambitious of shewing that he wanted not my advice. He was too

eager to shew his address, but knows not the way, which I was

going to shew him, to turn the horse, and make him descend at the

wish of his rider. Therefore, the favour I ask of your majesty

is, not to make me accountable for what accidents may befall him;

you are too just to impute to me any misfortune that may attend

him."

This address of the Hindoo much surprised and afflicted the

emperor, who saw the danger his son was in to be inevitable, if,

as the Hindoo said, there was a secret to bring him back,

different from that which carried him away; and asked, in a

passion, why he did not call him the moment he ascended?

"Sir," answered the Hindoo, "your majesty saw as well as I with

what rapidity the horse flew away. The surprise I was then, and

still am in, deprived me of the use of my speech; but if I could

have spoken, he was got too far to hear me. If he had heard me,

he knew not the secret to bring him back, which, through his

impatience, he would not stay to learn. But, sir," added he,

"there is room to hope that the prince, when he finds himself at

a loss, will perceive another peg, and as soon as he turns that,

the horse will cease to rise, and descend to the ground, when he

may turn him to what place he pleases by guiding him with the

bridle."

Notwithstanding all these arguments of the Hindoo, which carried

great appearance of probability, the emperor of Persia was much

alarmed at the evident danger of his son. "I suppose," replied

he, "it is very uncertain whether my son may perceive the other

peg, and make a right use of it; may not the horse, instead of

lighting on the ground, fall upon some rock, or tumble into the

sea with him?"

"Sir," replied the Hindoo, "I can deliver your majesty from this

apprehension, by assuring you, that the horse crosses seas

without ever falling into them, and always carries his rider

wherever he may wish to go. And your majesty may assure yourself,

that if the prince does but find out the other peg I mentioned,

the horse will carry him where he pleases. It is not to be

supposed that he will stop any where but where he can find

assistance, and make himself known."

"Be it as it may," replied the emperor of Persia, "as I cannot

depend upon the assurance you give me, your head shall answer for

my son's life, if he does not return safe in three days' time, or

I should hear that he is alive." He then ordered his officers to

secure the Hindoo, and keep him close prisoner; after which he

retired to his palace in affliction that the festival of Nooroze

should have proved so inauspicious.

In the mean time the prince was carried through the air with

prodigious velocity; and in less than an hour's time had ascended

so high, that he could not distinguish any thing on the earth,

but mountains and plains seemed confounded together. It was then

he began to think of returning, and conceived he might do this by

turning the same peg the contrary way, and pulling the bridle at

the same time. But when he found that the horse still rose with

the same swiftness, his alarm was great. He turned the peg

several times, one way and the other, but all in vain. It was

then he grew sensible of his fault, in not having learnt the

necessary precautions to guide the horse before he mounted. He

immediately apprehended the great danger he was in, but that

apprehension did not deprive him of his reason. He examined the

horse's head and neck with attention, and perceived behind the

right ear another peg, smaller than the other. He turned that

peg, and presently perceived that he descended in the same

oblique manner as he had mounted, but not so swiftly.

Night had overshadowed that part of the earth over which the

prince was when he found out and turned the small peg; and as the

horse descended, he by degrees lost sight of the sun, till it

grew quite dark; insomuch that, instead of choosing what place he

would go to, he was forced to let the bridle lie upon the horse's

neck, and wait patiently till he alighted, though not without the

dread lest it should be in the desert, a river, or the sea.

At last the horse stopped upon some solid substance about

midnight, and the prince dismounted very faint and hungry, having

eaten nothing since the morning, when he came out of the palace

with his father to assist at the festival. He found himself to be

on the terrace of a magnificent palace, surrounded with a

balustrade of white marble, breast high; and groping about,

reached a staircase, which led down into an apartment, the door

of which was half open.

Few but prince Firoze Shaw would have ventured to descend those

stairs dark as it was, and in the danger he exposed himself to

from friends or foes. But no consideration could stop him. "I do

not come," said he to himself, "to do anybody harm; and

certainly, whoever meets or sees me first, and finds that I have

no arms in my hands, will not attempt any thing against my life,

before they hear what I have to say for myself." After this

reflection, he opened the door wider, without making any noise,

went softly down the stairs, that he might not awaken anybody;

and when he came to a landing-place on the staircase, found the

door of a great hall, that had a light in it, open.

The prince stopped at the door, and listening, heard no other noise

than the snoring of some people who were fast asleep. He advanced a

little into the room, and by the light of a lamp saw that those

persons were black eunuchs, with naked sabres laid by them; which was

enough to inform him that this was the guard-chamber of some sultan or

princess; which latter it proved to be.

In the next room to this the princess lay, as appeared by the light,

the door being open, through a silk curtain, which drew before the

door-way, whither prince Firoze Shaw advanced on tip-toe, without

waking the eunuchs. He drew aside the curtain, went in, and without

staying to observe the magnificence of the chamber, gave his attention

to something of greater importance. He saw many beds; only one of them

on a sofa, the rest on the floor. The princess slept in the first, and

her women in the others.

This distinction was enough to direct the prince. He crept softly

towards the bed, without waking either the princess or her women,

and beheld a beauty so extraordinary, that he was charmed, and

inflamed with love at the first sight. "O heavens!" said he to

himself, "has my fate brought me hither to deprive me of my

liberty, which hitherto I have always preserved? How can I avoid

certain slavery, when those eyes shall open, since, without

doubt, they complete the lustre of this assemblage of charms! I

must quickly resolve, since I cannot stir without being my own

murderer; for so has necessity ordained."

After these reflections on his situation, and on the princess's

beauty, he fell on his knees, and twitching gently the princess's

sleeve, pulled it towards him. The princess opened her eyes, and

seeing a handsome man on his knees, was in great surprise; yet

seemed to shew no sign of fear.

The prince availed himself of this favourable moment, bowed his

head to the ground, and rising said, "Beautiful princess, by the

most extraordinary and wonderful adventure, you see at your feet

a suppliant prince, son of the emperor of Persia, who was

yesterday morning in his court, at the celebration of a solemn

festival, but is now in a strange country, in danger of his life,

if you have not the goodness and generosity to afford him your

assistance and protection. These I implore, adorable princess,

with confidence that you will not refuse me. I have the more

ground to persuade myself, as so much beauty and majesty cannot

entertain inhumanity."

The personage to whom prince Firoze Shaw so happily addressed

himself was the princess of Bengal, eldest daughter of the Rajah

of that kingdom, who had built this palace at a small distance

from his capital, whither she went to take the benefit of the

country air. After she had heard the prince with all the candour

he could desire, she replied with equal goodness, "Prince, you

are not in a barbarous country; take courage; hospitality,

humanity, and politeness are to be met with in the kingdom of

Bengal, as well as in that of Persia. It is not merely I who

grant you the protection you ask; you not only have found it in

my palace, but will meet it throughout the whole kingdom; you may

believe me, and depend on what I say."

The prince of Persia would have thanked the princess for her

civility, and had already bowed down his head to return the

compliment; but she would not give him leave to speak.

"Notwithstanding I desire," said she, "to know by what miracle

you have come hither from the capital of Persia in so short a

time; and by what enchantment you have been able to penetrate so

far as to come to my apartment, and to have evaded the vigilance

of my guards; yet, as it is impossible but you must want some

refreshment, and regarding you as a welcome guest, I will waive

my curiosity, and give orders to my women to regale you, and shew

you an apartment, that you may rest yourself after your fatigue,

and be better able to satisfy my curiosity."

The princess's women, who awoke at the first words which the

prince addressed to the princess, were in the utmost surprise to

see a man at the princess's feet, as they could not conceive how

he had got thither, without waking them or the eunuchs. They no

sooner comprehended the princess's intentions, than they were

ready to obey her commands. They each took a wax candle, of which

there were great numbers lighted up in the room; and after the

prince had respectfully taken leave, went before and conducted

him into a handsome chamber; where, while some were preparing the

bed, others went into the kitchen; and notwithstanding it was so

unseasonable an hour, they did not make prince Firoze Shaw wait

long, but brought him presently a collation; and when he had

eaten as much as he chose, removed the trays, and left him to

taste the sweets of repose.

In the mean time, the princess of Bengal was so struck with the

charms, wit, politeness, and other good qualities which she had

discovered in her short interview with the prince, that she could

not sleep: but when her women came into her room again asked them

if they had taken care of him, if he wanted any thing; and

particularly, what they thought of him?

The women, after they had satisfied her as to the first queries,

answered to the last: "We do not know what you may think of him,

but, for our parts, we are of opinion you would be very happy if

your father would marry you to so amiable a youth; for there is

not a prince in all the kingdom of Bengal to be compared to him;

nor can we hear that any of the neighbouring princes are worthy

of you."

This flattering compliment was not displeasing to the princess of

Bengal; but as she had no mind to declare her sentiments, she

imposed silence, telling them that they talked without

reflection, bidding them return to rest, and let her sleep.

The next day the princess took more pains in dressing and

adjusting herself at the glass than she had ever done before. She

never tired her women's patience so much, by making them do and

undo the same thing several times. She adorned her head, neck,

arms, and waist, with the finest and largest diamonds she

possessed. The habit she put on was one of the richest stuffs of

the Indies, of a most beautiful colour, and made only for kings,

princes, and princesses. After she had consulted her glass, and

asked her women, one after another, if any thing was wanting to

her attire, she sent to know, if the prince of Persia was awake;

and as she never doubted but that, if he was up and dressed, he

would ask leave to come and pay his respects to her, she charged

the messenger to tell him she would make him the visit, and she

had her reasons for this.

The prince of Persia, who by the night's rest had recovered the

fatigue he had undergone the day before, had just dressed

himself, when he received the princess of Bengal's compliments by

one of her women. Without giving the lady who brought the message

leave to communicate it, he asked her, if it was proper for him

then to go and pay his respects to the princess; and when the

lady had acquitted herself of her errand, he replied, "It shall

be as the princess thinks fit; I came here to be solely at her

pleasure."

As soon as the princess understood that the prince of Persia

waited for her, she immediately went to pay him a visit. After

mutual compliments, the prince asking pardon for having waked the

princess out of a profound sleep, and the princess inquiring

after his health, and how he had rested, the princess sat down on

a sofa, as did also the prince, though at some distance, out of

respect.

The princess then resuming the conversation, said, "I would have

received you, prince, in the chamber in which you found me last

night; but as the chief of my eunuchs has the liberty of entering

it, and never comes further without my leave, from my impatience

to hear the surprising adventure which procured me the happiness

of seeing you, I chose to come hither, that we may not be

interrupted; therefore I beg of you to give me that satisfaction,

which will highly oblige me."

Prince Firoze Shaw, to gratify the princess of Bengal, began with

describing the festival of the Nooroze, and mentioned the shows

which had amazed the court of Persia, and the people of Sheerauz.

Afterwards he came to the enchanted horse; the description of

which, with the account of the wonders which the Hindoo had

performed before so august an assembly, convinced the princess

that nothing of that kind could be imagined more surprising in

the world. "You may well think, charming princess," continued the

prince of Persia, "that the emperor my father, who cares not what

he gives for any thing that is rare and curious, would be very

desirous to purchase such a curiosity. He asked the Hindoo what

he would have for him; who made him an extravagant reply, telling

him, that he had not bought him, but taken him in exchange for

his only daughter, and could not part with him but on the like

condition, which was to have his consent to marry the princess my

sister.

"The crowd of courtiers, who stood about the emperor my father,

hearing the extravagance of this proposal, laughed loudly; I for

my part conceived such great indignation, that I could not

disguise it; and the more, because I saw that my father was

doubtful what answer he should give. In short, I believe he would

have granted him what he asked, if I had not represented to him

how injurious it would be to his honour; yet my remonstrance

could not bring him entirely to quit his design of sacrificing

the princess my sister to so despicable a person. He fancied he

should bring me over to his opinion, if once I could comprehend,

as he imagined he did, the singular worth of this horse. With

this view he would have me mount, and make a trial of him myself.

"To please my father, I mounted the horse, and as soon as I was

upon his back, put my hand on a peg, as I had seen the Hindoo do

before, to make the horse mount into the air, without stopping to

take instructions of the owner for his guidance or descent. The

instant I touched the peg, the horse ascended, as swift as an

arrow shot out of a bow, and I was presently at such a distance

from the earth that I could not distinguish any object. From the

swiftness of the motion I was for some time unapprehensive of the

danger to which I was exposed; when I grew sensible of it, I

endeavoured to turn the peg the contrary way. But the experiment

would not answer my expectation, for still the horse rose, and

carried me a greater distance from the earth. At last I perceived

another peg, which I turned, and then I grew sensible that the

horse descended towards the earth, and presently found myself so

surrounded with darkness, that it was impossible for me to guide

the machine. In this condition I laid the bridle on his neck, and

trusted myself to the will of God to dispose of my fate.

"At length the horse stopped, I got off his back, and examining

whereabouts I might be, perceived myself on the terrace of this

palace, and found the door of the staircase half open. I came

softly down the stairs, and seeing a door open, put my head into

the room, perceived some eunuchs asleep, and a great light in an

adjoining chamber. The necessity I was under, notwithstanding the

inevitable danger to which I should be exposed, if the eunuchs

had waked, inspired me with the boldness, or rather rashness, to

cross that room to get to the other.

"It is needless," added the prince, "to tell you the rest, since

you are not unacquainted with all that passed afterwards. But I

am obliged in duty to thank you for your goodness and generosity,

and to beg of you to let me know how I may shew my gratitude.

According to the law of nations I am already your slave, and

cannot make you an offer of my person; there only remains my

heart: but, alas! princess, what do I say? My heart is no longer

my own, your charms have forced it from me, but in such a manner,

that I will never ask for it again, but yield it up; give me

leave, therefore, to declare you mistress both of my heart and

inclination."

These last words of the prince were pronounced with such an air

and tone, that the princess of Bengal never doubted of the effect

she had expected from her charms; neither did she seem to resent

the precipitate declaration of the prince of Persia. Her blushes

served but to heighten her beauty, and render her more amiable in

his eyes.

As soon as she had recovered herself, she replied, "Prince, you

have given me sensible pleasure, by telling me your wonderful

adventure. But, on the other hand, I can hardly forbear

shuddering, when I think on the height you were in the air; and

though I have the good fortune to see you here safe and well, I

was in pain till you came to that part where the horse

fortunately descended upon the terrace of my palace. The same

thing might have happened in a thousand other places. I am glad

that chance has given me the preference to the whole world, and

of the opportunity of letting you know, that it could not have

conducted you to any place where you could have been received

with greater pleasure.

"But, prince," continued she, "I should think myself offended, if

I believed that the thought you mentioned of being my slave was

serious, and that it did not proceed from your politeness rather

than from a sincerity of sentiment; for, by the reception I gave

you yesterday, you might assure yourself you are here as much at

liberty as in the midst of the court of Persia.

"As to your heart," added the princess, in a tone which shewed

nothing less than a refusal, "as I am persuaded that you have not

lived so long without disposing of it, and that you could not

fail of making choice of a princess who deserves it, I should be

sorry to give you an occasion to be guilty of infidelity to her."

Prince Firoze Shaw would have protested that when he left Persia

he was master of his own heart: but, at that instant, one of the

princess's ladies in waiting came to tell that a collation was

served up.

This interruption delivered the prince and princess from an

explanation, which would have been equally embarrassing to both,

and of which they stood in need. The princess of Bengal was fully

convinced of the prince of Persia's sincerity; and the prince,

though the princess had not explained herself, judged

nevertheless from some words she had let fall, that he had no

reason to complain.

As the lady held the door open, the princess of Bengal said to

the prince, rising off her seat, as he did also from his, "I am

not used to eat so early; but as I fancied you might have had but

an indifferent supper last night, I ordered breakfast to be got

ready sooner than ordinary." After this compliment she led him

into a magnificent hall, where a cloth was laid covered with

great plenty of choice and excellent viands; and as soon as they

were seated, many beautiful slaves of the princess, richly

dressed, began a most agreeable concert of vocal and instrumental

music, which lasted the whole time of eating.

This concert was so sweet and well managed, that it did not in

the least interrupt the prince and princess's conversation. The

prince served the princess with the choicest of every thing, and

strove to outdo her in civility, both by words and actions, which

she returned with many new compliments: and in this reciprocal

commerce of civilities and attentions, love made a greater

progress in both than a concerted interview would have promoted.

When they rose, the princess conducted the prince into a large

and magnificent saloon, embellished with paintings in blue and

gold, and richly furnished; there they both sat down in a

balcony, which afforded a most agreeable prospect into the palace

garden, which prince Firoze Shaw admired for the vast variety of

flowers, shrubs, and trees, which were full as beautiful as those

of Persia, but quite different. Here taking the opportunity of

entering into conversation with the princess, he said, "I always

believed, madam, that no part of the world but Persia afforded

such stately palaces and beautiful gardens; but now I see, that

other great monarchs know as well how to build mansions suitable

to their power and greatness; and if there is a difference in the

manner of building, there is none in the degree of grandeur and

magnificence."

"Prince," replied the princess of Bengal, "as I have no idea of

the palaces of Persia, I cannot judge of the comparison you have

made of mine. But, however sincere you seem to be, I can hardly

think it just, but rather incline to believe it a compliment: I

will not despise my palace before you; you have too good an eye,

too good a taste not to form a sound judgment. But I assure you,

I think it very indifferent when I compare it with the king my

father's, which far exceeds it for grandeur, beauty, and

richness; you shall tell me yourself what you think of it, when

you have seen it: for since a chance has brought you so nigh to

the capital of this kingdom, I do not doubt but you will see it,

and make my father a visit, that he may pay you all the honour

due to a prince of your rank and merit."

The princess flattered herself, that by exciting in the prince of

Persia a curiosity to see the capital of Bengal, and to visit her

father, the king, seeing him so handsome, wise, and accomplished

a prince, might perhaps resolve to propose an alliance with him,

by offering her to him as a wife. And as she was well persuaded

she was not indifferent to the prince, and that he would be

pleased with the proposal, she hoped to attain to the utmost of

her wishes, and preserve all the decorum becoming a princess, who

would appear resigned to the will of her king and father; but the

prince of Persia did not return her an answer according to her

expectation.

"Princess," he replied, "the preference which you give the king

of Bengal's palace to your own is enough to induce me to believe

it much exceeds it: and as to the proposal of my going and paying

my respects to the king your father, I should not only do myself

a pleasure, but an honour. But judge, princess, yourself, would

you advise me to present myself before so great a monarch, like

an adventurer, without attendants, and a train suitable to my

rank?"

"Prince," replied the princess, "let not that give you any pain;

if you will but go, you shall want no money to have what train

and attendants you please: I will furnish you; and we have

traders here of all nations in great numbers, and you may make

choice of as many as you please to form your household."

Prince Firoze Shaw penetrated the princess of Bengal's intention,

and this sensible mark of her love still augmented his passion,

which, notwithstanding its violence, made him not forget his

duty. Without any hesitation he replied, "Princess, I should most

willingly accept of the obliging offer you make me, for which I

cannot sufficiently shew my gratitude, if the uneasiness my

father must feel on account of my absence did not prevent me. I

should be unworthy of the tenderness he has always had for me, if

I should not return as soon as possible to calm his fears. I know

him so well, that while I have the happiness of enjoying the

conversation of so lovely a princess, I am persuaded he is

plunged into the deepest grief, and has lost all hopes of seeing

me again. I trust you will do me the justice to believe, that I

cannot, without ingratitude, and being guilty of a crime,

dispense with going to restore to him that life, which a too long

deferred return may have endangered already.

"After this, princess," continued the prince of Persia, "if you

will permit me, and think me worthy to aspire to the happiness of

becoming your husband, as my father has always declared that he

never would constrain me in my choice, I should find it no

difficult matter to get leave to return, not as a stranger, but

as a prince, to contract an alliance with your father by our

marriage; and I am persuaded that the emperor will be overjoyed

when I tell him with what generosity you received me, though a

stranger in distress."

The princess of Bengal was too reasonable, after what the prince

of Persia had said, to persist any longer in persuading him to

pay a visit to the raja of Bengal, or to ask any thing of him

contrary to his duty and honour. But she was much alarmed to find

he thought of so sudden a departure; fearing, that if he took his

leave of her so soon, instead of remembering his promise, he

would forget when he ceased to see her. To divert him from his

purpose, she said to him, "Prince, my intention of proposing a

visit to my father was not to oppose so just a duty as that you

mention, and which I did not foresee. But I cannot approve of

your going so soon as you propose; at least grant me the favour I

ask of a little longer acquaintance; and since I have had the

happiness to have you alight in the kingdom of Bengal, rather

than in the midst of a desert, or on the top of some steep craggy

rock, from which it would have been impossible for you to

descend, I desire you will stay long enough to enable you to give

a better account at the court of Persia of what you may see

here."

The sole end the princess had in this request was, that the

prince of Persia, by a longer stay, might become insensibly more

passionately enamoured of her charms; hoping thereby that his

ardent desire of returning would diminish, and then he might be

brought to appear in public, and pay a visit to the Rajah of

Bengal. The prince of Persia could not well refuse her the favour

she asked, after the kind reception she had given him; and

therefore politely complied with her request; and the princess's

thoughts were directed to render his stay agreeable by all the

amusements she could devise.

Nothing went forward for several days but concerts of music,

accompanied with magnificent feasts and collations in the

gardens, or hunting-parties in the vicinity of the palace, which

abounded with all sorts of game, stags, hinds, and fallow deer,

and other beasts peculiar to the kingdom of Bengal, which the

princess could pursue without danger. After the chase, the prince

and princess met in some beautiful spot, where a carpet was

spread, and cushions laid for their accommodation. There resting

themselves, after their violent exercise, they conversed on

various subjects. The princess took pains to turn the

conversation on the grandeur, power, riches, and government of

Persia; that from the prince's replies she might have an

opportunity to talk of the kingdom of Bengal, and its advantages,

and engage him to resolve to make a longer stay there; but she

was disappointed in her expectations.

The prince of Persia, without the least exaggeration, gave so

advantageous an account of the extent of the kingdom of Persia,

its magnificence and riches, its military force, its commerce by

sea and land with the most remote parts of the world, some of

which were unknown even to him; the vast number of large cities

it contained, almost as populous as that which the emperor had

chosen for his residence, where he had palaces furnished ready to

receive him at all seasons of the year; so that he had his choice

always to enjoy a perpetual spring; that before he had concluded,

the princess found the kingdom of Bengal to be very much inferior

to that of Persia in a great many respects. When he had finished

his relation, he begged of her to entertain him with a

description of Bengal.

The princess after much entreaty gave prince Firoze Shaw that

satisfaction; but by lessening a great many advantages the

kingdom of Bengal was well known to have over that of Persia, she

betrayed the disposition she felt to accompany him, so that he

believed she would consent at the first proposition he should

make; but he thought it would not be proper to make it till he

had shewed her so much deference as to stay with her long enough

to make the blame fall on herself, in case she wished to detain

him from returning to his father.

Two whole months the prince of Persia abandoned himself entirely

to the will of the princess of Bengal, yielding to all the

amusements she contrived for him, for she neglected nothing to

divert him, as if she thought he had nothing else to do but to

pass his whole life with her in this manner. But he now declared

seriously he could not stay longer, and begged of her to give him

leave to return to his father; repeating again the promise he had

made her to come back soon in a style worthy of her and himself,

and to demand her in marriage of the Rajah of Bengal.

"And, princess," observed the prince of Persia, "that you may not

suspect the truth of what I say; and that by my asking this

permission you may not rank me among those false lovers who

forget the object of their affection as soon as absent from them;

to shew that my passion is real, and not feigned, and that life

cannot be pleasant to me when absent from so lovely a princess,

whose love to me I cannot doubt is mutual; I would presume, were

I not afraid you would be offended at my request, to ask the

favour of taking you along with me."

As the prince saw that the princess blushed at these words,

without any mark of anger, he proceeded, and said, "Princess, as

for my father's consent, and the reception he will give you, I

venture to assure you he will receive you with pleasure into his

alliance; and as for the Rajah of Bengal, after all the love and

tender regard he has always expressed for you, he must be the

reverse of what you have described him, an enemy to your repose

and happiness, if he should not receive in a friendly manner the

embassy which my father will send to him for his approbation of

our marriage."

The princess returned no answer to this address of the prince of

Persia; but her silence, and eyes cast down, were sufficient to

inform him that she had no reluctance to accompany him into

Persia. The only difficulty she felt was, that the prince knew

not well enough how to govern the horse, and she was apprehensive

of being involved with him in the same difficulty as when he

first made the experiment. But the prince soon removed her fear,

by assuring her she might trust herself with him, for that after

the experience he had acquired, he defied the Hindoo himself to

manage him better. She thought therefore only of concerting

measures to get off with him so secretly, that nobody belonging

to the palace should have the least suspicion of their design.

The next morning, a little before day-break, when all the

attendants were asleep, they went upon the terrace of the palace.

The prince turned the horse towards Persia, and placed him where

the princess could easily get up behind him; which she had no

sooner done, and was well settled with her arms about his waist,

for her better security, than he turned the peg, when the horse

mounted into the air, and making his usual haste, under the

guidance of the prince, in two hours time the prince discovered

the capital of Persia.

He would not alight at the great square from whence he had set

out, nor in the palace, but directed his course towards a

pleasure-house at a little distance from the capital. He led the

princess into a handsome apartment, where he told her, that to do

her all the honour that was due to her, he would go and inform

his father of their arrival, and return to her immediately. He

ordered the housekeeper of the palace, who was then present, to

provide the princess with whatever she had occasion for.

After the prince had taken his leave of the princess, he ordered

a horse to be saddled, which he mounted, after sending back the

housekeeper to the princess, with orders to provide her

refreshments immediately, and then set forwards for the palace.

As he passed through the streets he was received with

acclamations by the people, who were overjoyed to see him again.

The emperor his father was giving audience, when he appeared

before him in the midst of his council. He received him with

ecstacy, and embracing him with tears of joy and tenderness,

asked him, what was become of the Hindoo's horse.

This question gave the prince an opportunity of describing the

embarrassment and danger he was in when the horse ascended into

the air, and how he had arrived at last at the princess of

Bengal's palace, the kind reception he had met with there, and

that the motive which had induced him to stay so long with her

was the affection she had shewn him; also, that after promising

to marry her, he had persuaded her to accompany him into Persia.

"But, sir," added the prince, "I felt assured that you would not

refuse your consent, and have brought her with me on the

enchanted horse, to a palace where your majesty often goes for

your pleasure; and have left her there, till I could return and

assure her that my promise was not in vain."

After these words, the prince prostrated himself before the

emperor to obtain his consent, when his father raised him up,

embraced him a second time, and said to him, "Son, I not only

consent to your marriage with the princess of Bengal, but will go

and meet her myself, and thank her for the obligation I in

particular have to her, and will bring her to my palace, and

celebrate your nuptials this day."

The emperor now gave orders for his court to make preparations

for the princess's entry; that the rejoicings should be announced

by the royal band of military music, and that the Hindoo should

be fetched out of prison and brought before him. When the Hindoo

was conducted before the emperor, he said to him, "I secured thy

person, that thy life, though not a sufficient victim to my rage

and grief, might answer for that of the prince my son, whom,

however, thanks to God! I have found again: go, take your horse,

and never let me see your face more."

As the Hindoo had learned of those who brought him out of prison

that prince Firoze Shaw was returned with a princess, and was

also informed of the place where he had alighted and left her,

and that the emperor was making preparations to go and bring her

to his palace; as soon as he got out of the presence, he

bethought himself of being revenged upon the emperor and the

prince. Without losing any time, he went directly to the palace,

and addressing himself to the keeper, told him, he came from the

prince of Persia for the princess of Bengal, and to conduct her

behind him through the air to the emperor, who waited in the

great square of his palace to gratify the whole court and city of

Sheerauz with that wonderful sight.

The palace-keeper, who knew the Hindoo, and that the emperor had

imprisoned him, gave the more credit to what he said, because he

saw that he was at liberty. He presented him to the princess of

Bengal; who no sooner understood that he came from the prince of

Persia than she consented to what the prince, as she thought, had

desired of her.

The Hindoo, overjoyed at his success, and the ease with which he

had accomplished his villany, mounted his horse, took the

princess behind him, with the assistance of the keeper, turned

the peg, and instantly the horse mounted into the air.

At the same time the emperor of Persia, attended by his court,

was on the road to the palace where the princess of Bengal had

been left, and the prince of Persia was advanced before, to

prepare the princess to receive his father; when the Hindoo, to

brave them both, and revenge himself for the ill-treatment he had

received, appeared over their heads with his prize.

When the emperor of Persia saw the ravisher, he stopped. His

surprise and affliction were the more sensible, because it was

not in his power to punish so high an affront. He loaded him with

a thousand imprecations, as did also all the courtiers, who were

witnesses of so signal a piece of insolence and unparalleled

artifice and treachery.

The Hindoo, little moved with their curses, which just reached

his ears, continued his way, while the emperor, extremely

mortified at so great an insult, but more so that he could not

punish the author, returned to his palace in rage and vexation.

But what was prince Firoze Shaw's grief at beholding the Hindoo

hurrying away the princess of Bengal, whom he loved so

passionately that he could not live without her! At a spectacle

so little expected he was confounded, and before he could

deliberate with himself what measures to pursue, the horse was

out of sight. He could not resolve how to act, whether he should

return to his father's palace, and shut himself in his apartment,

to give himself entirely up to his affliction, without attempting

to pursue the ravisher. But as his generosity, love, and courage,

would not suffer this, he continued on his way to the palace

where he had left his princess.

When he arrived, the palace-keeper, who was by this time

convinced of his fatal credulity, in believing the artful Hindoo,

threw himself at his feet with tears in his eyes, accused himself

of the crime, which unintentionally he had committed, and

condemned himself to die by his hand. "Rise," said the prince to

him, "I do not impute the loss of my princess to thee, but to my

own want of precaution. But not to lose time, fetch me a

dervish's habit, and take care you do not give the least hint

that it is for me."

Not far from this palace there stood a convent of dervishes, the

superior of which was the palace-keeper's particular friend. He

went to his chief, and telling him that a considerable officer at

court and a man of worth, to whom he had been very much obliged

and wished to favour, by giving him an opportunity to withdraw

from some sudden displeasure of the emperor, readily obtained a

complete dervish's habit, and carried it to prince Firoze Shaw.

The prince immediately pulled off his own dress, put it on, and

being so disguised, and provided with a box of jewels, which he

had brought as a present to the princess, left the palace,

uncertain which way to go, but resolved not to return till he had

found out his princess, and brought her back again, or perish in

the attempt.

But to return to the Hindoo; he governed his enchanted horse so

well, that he arrived early next morning in a wood, near the

capital of the kingdom of Cashmeer. Being hungry, and concluding

the princess was so also, he alighted in that wood, in an open

part of it, and left the princess on a grassy spot, close to a

rivulet of clear fresh water.

During the Hindoo's absence, the princess of Bengal, who knew

that she was in the power of a base ravisher, whose violence she

dreaded, thought of escaping from him, and seeking out for some

sanctuary. But as she had eaten scarcely any thing on her arrival

at the palace, was so faint, that she could not execute her

design, but was forced to abandon it and stay where she was,

without any other resource than her courage, and a firm

resolution rather to suffer death than be unfaithful to the

prince of Persia. When the Hindoo returned, she did not wait to

be entreated, but ate with him, and recovered herself enough to

answer with courage to the insolent language he now began to hold

to her. After many threats, as she saw that the Hindoo was

preparing to use violence, she rose up to make resistance, and by

her cries and shrieks drew towards them a company of horsemen,

which happened to be the sultan of Cashmeer and his attendants,

who, as they were returning from hunting, happily for the

princess of Bengal, passed through that part of the wood, and ran

to her assistance, at the noise she made.

The sultan addressed himself to the Hindoo, demanded who he was,

and wherefore he ill treated the lady? The Hindoo, with great

impudence, replied, "That she was his wife, and what had any one

to do with his quarrel with her?"

The princess, who neither knew the rank nor quality of the person

who came so seasonably to her relief, told the Hindoo he was a

liar; and said to the sultan, "My lord, whoever you are whom

Heaven has sent to my assistance, have compassion on a princess,

and give no credit to that impostor. Heaven forbid that I should

be the wife of so vile and despicable a Hindoo! a wicked

magician, who has forced me away from the prince of Persia, to

whom I was going to be united, and has brought me hither on the

enchanted horse you behold there."

The princess of Bengal had no occasion to say more to persuade

the sultan of Cashmeer that what she told him was truth. Her

beauty, majestic air, and tears, spoke sufficiently for her.

Justly enraged at the insolence of the Hindoo, he ordered his

guards to surround him, and strike off his head: which sentence

was immediately executed.

The princess, thus delivered from the persecution of the Hindoo,

fell into another no less afflicting. The sultan conducted her to

his palace, where he lodged her in the most magnificent

apartment, next his own, commanded a great number of women slaves

to attend her, and ordered a guard of eunuchs. He led her himself

into the apartment he had assigned her; where, without giving her

time to thank him for the great obligation she had received, he

said to her, "As I am certain, princess, that you must want rest,

I will take my leave of you till to-morrow, when you will be

better able to relate to me the circumstances of this strange

adventure;" and then left her.

The princess of Bengal's joy was inexpressible at finding herself

delivered from the violence of the Hindoo, of whom she could not

think without horror. She flattered herself that the sultan of

Cashmeer would complete his generosity by sending her back to the

prince of Persia when she should have told him her story, and

asked that favour of him; but she was much deceived in these

hopes; for her deliverer had resolved to marry her himself the

next day; and for that end had ordered rejoicings to be made by

day-break, by beating of drums, sounding of trumpets, and other

instruments expressive of joy; which not only echoed through the

palace, but throughout the whole city.

The princess of Bengal was awakened by these tumultuous concerts;

but attributed them to a very different cause from the true one.

When the sultan of Cashmeer, who had given orders that he should

be informed when the princess was ready to receive a visit, came

to wait upon her; after he had inquired after her health, he

acquainted her that all those rejoicings were to render their

nuptials the more solemn; and at the same time desired her assent

to the union. This declaration put her into such agitation that

she fainted away.

The women-slaves, who were present, ran to her assistance; and

the sultan did all he could to bring her to herself, though it

was a long time before they succeeded. But when she recovered,

rather than break the promise she had made to prince Firoze Shaw,

by consenting to marry the sultan of Cashmeer, who had proclaimed

their nuptials before he had asked her consent, she resolved to

feign madness. She began to utter the most extravagant

expressions before the sultan, and even rose off her seat as if

to attack him; insomuch that he was greatly alarmed and

afflicted, that he had made such a proposal so unseasonably.

When he found that her frenzy rather increased than abated, he

left her with her women, charging them never to leave her alone,

but to take great care of her. He sent often that day to inquire

how she did; but received no other answer than that she was

rather worse than better. At night she seemed more indisposed

than she had been all day, insomuch that the sultan deferred the

happiness he had promised himself.

The princess of Bengal continued to talk wildly, and shew other

marks of a disordered mind, next day and the following; so that

the sultan was induced to send for all the physicians belonging

to his court, to consult them upon her disease, and to ask if

they could cure her.

The physicians all agreed that there were several sorts and

degrees of this disorder, some curable and others not; and told

the sultan, that they could not judge of the princess of Bengal's

unless they might see her; upon which the sultan ordered the

eunuchs to introduce them into the princess's chamber, one after

another, according to their rank.

The princess, who foresaw what would happen, and feared, that if

she let the physicians feel her pulse, the least experienced of

them would soon know that she was in good health, and that her

madness was only feigned, flew into such a well-dissembled rage

and passion, that she appeared ready to injure those who came

near her; so none of them durst approach her.

Some who pretended to be more skilful than the rest, and boasted

of judging of diseases only by sight, ordered her some potions,

which she made the less difficulty to take, well knowing she

could be sick or well at pleasure, and that they could do her no

harm.

When the sultan of Cashmeer saw that his court physicians could

not cure her, he called in the most celebrated and experienced of

the city, who had no better success. Afterwards he sent for the

most famous in the kingdom, who met with no better reception than

the others from the princess, and what they prescribed had no

effect. Afterwards he dispatched expresses to the courts of

neighbouring sultans, with the princess's case, to be distributed

among the most famous physicians, with a promise of a munificent

reward to any of them who should come and effect her cure.

Various physicians arrived from all parts, and tried their skill;

but none could boast of better success than their predecessors,

or of restoring the princess's faculties, since it was a case

that did not depend on medicine, but on the will of the princess

herself.

During this interval Firoze Shaw, disguised in the habit of a

dervish, travelled through many provinces and towns, involved in

grief; and endured excessive fatigue, not knowing which way to

direct his course, or whether he might not be pursuing the very

opposite road from what he ought, in order to hear the tidings he

was in search of. He made diligent inquiry after her at every

place he came to; till at last passing through a city of

Hindoostan, he heard the people talk much of a princess of

Bengal, who ran mad on the day of the intended celebration of her

nuptials with the sultan of Cashmeer. At the name of the princess

of Bengal, and supposing that there could exist no other princess

of Bengal than her upon whose account he had undertaken his

travels, he hastened towards the kingdom of Cashmeer, and upon

his arrival at the capital took up his lodging at a khan, where

the same day he was informed of the story of the princess, and

the fate of the Hindoo magician, which he had so richly deserved.

From the circumstances, the prince was convinced that she was the

beloved object he had sought so long.

Being informed of all these particulars, he provided himself

against the next day with a physician's habit, and having let his

beard grow during his travels, he passed the more easily for the

character he assumed, went to the palace, impatient to behold his

beloved, where he presented himself to the chief of the officers,

and observed modestly, that perhaps it might be looked upon as a

rash undertaking to attempt the cure of the princess, after so

many had failed; but that he hoped some specifics, from which he

had experienced success, might effect the desired relief. The

chief of the officers told him he was welcome, that the sultan

would receive him with pleasure, and that if he should have the

good fortune to restore the princess to her former health, he

might expect a considerable reward from his master's liberality:

"Stay a moment," added he, "I will come to you again

immediately."

Some time had elapsed since any physician had offered himself;

and the sultan of Cashmeer with great grief had begun to lose all

hope of ever seeing the princess restored to health, that he

might marry, and shew how much he loved her. He ordered the

officer to introduce the physician he had announced.

The prince of Persia was presented, when the sultan, without

wasting time in superfluous discourse, after having told him the

princess of Bengal could not bear the sight of a physician

without falling into most violent transports, which increased her

malady, conducted him into a closet, from whence, through a

lattice, he might see her without being observed.

There Firoze Shaw beheld his lovely princess sitting melancholy,

with tears in her eyes, and singing an air in which she deplored

her unhappy fate, which had deprived her, perhaps, for ever, of

the object she loved so tenderly.

The prince was sensibly affected at the melancholy condition in

which he found his dear princess, but he wanted no other signs to

comprehend that her disorder was feigned, or that it was for love

of him that she was under so grievous an affliction. When he came

out of the closet, he told the sultan that he had discovered the

nature of the princess's complaint, and that she was not

incurable; but added withal, that he must speak with her in

private, and alone, as, notwithstanding her violent agitation at

the sight of physicians, he hoped she would hear and receive him

favourably.

The sultan ordered the princess's chamber door to be opened, and

Firoze Shaw went in. As soon as the princess saw him (taking him

by his habit to be a physician), she rose up in a rage,

threatening him, and giving him the most abusive language. He

made directly towards her, and when he was nigh enough for her to

hear him, for he did not wish to be heard by any one else, said

to her, in a low voice, "Princess, I am not a physician, but the

prince of Persia, and am come to procure you your liberty."

The princess, who knew the sound of the voice, and the upper

features of his face, notwithstanding he had let his beard grow

so long, grew calm at once, and a secret joy and pleasure

overspread her face, the effect of seeing the person so much

desired so unexpectedly. Her agreeable surprise deprived her for

some time of the use of speech, and gave Firoze Shaw time to tell

her as briefly as possible, how despair had seized him when he

saw the Hindoo carry her away; the resolution he afterwards had

taken to leave every thing to find her out, and never to return

home till he had regained her out of the hands of the perfidious

wretch; and by what good fortune, at last, after a long and

fatiguing journey, he had the satisfaction to find her in the

palace of the sultan of Cashmeer. He then desired the princess to

inform him of all that happened to her, from the time she was

taken away, till that moment when he had the happiness to

converse with her, telling her, that it was of the greatest

importance to know this, that he might take the most proper

measures to deliver her from the tyranny of the sultan of

Cashmeer.

The princess informed him how she was delivered from the Hindoo's

violence by the sultan, as he was returning from hunting; how she

was alarmed the next day, by a declaration he had made of his

precipitate design to marry her, without even the ceremony of

asking her consent; that this violent and tyrannical conduct put

her into a swoon; after which she thought she had no other way

than what she had taken, to preserve herself for a prince to whom

she had given her heart and faith; or die, rather than marry the

sultan, whom she neither loved, nor could ever love.

The prince of Persia then asked her, if she knew what became of

the horse, after the death of the Hindoo magician. To which she

answered, that she knew not what orders the sultan had given; but

supposed, after the account she had given him of it, he would

take care of it as a curiosity.

As Firoze Shaw never doubted but that the sultan had the horse,

he communicated to the princess his design of making use of it to

convey them both into Persia; and after they had consulted

together on the measures they should take, they agreed that the

princess should dress herself the next day, and receive the

sultan civilly, but without speaking to him.

The sultan of Cashmeer was overjoyed when the prince of Persia

stated to him what effect his first visit had had towards the

cure of the princess. On the following day, when the princess

received him in such a manner as persuaded him her cure was far

advanced, he regarded him as the greatest physician in the world;

and seeing her in this state, contented himself with telling her

how rejoiced he was at her being likely soon to recover her

health. He exhorted her to follow the directions of so skilful a

physician, in order to complete what he had so well begun; and

then retired without waiting for her answer.

The prince of Persia, who attended the sultan of Cashmeer out of

the princess's chamber, as he accompanied him, asked if, without

failing in due respect, he might inquire, how the princess of

Bengal came into the dominions of Cashmeer thus alone, since her

own country was far distant? This he said on purpose to introduce

some conversation about the enchanted horse, and to know what was

become of it.

The sultan, who could not penetrate into the prince's motive,

concealed nothing from him; but informed him of what the princess

had related, when he had delivered her from the Hindoo magician:

adding, that he had ordered the enchanted horse to be kept safe

in his treasury as a great curiosity, though he knew not the use

of it.

"Sir," replied the pretended physician, "the information which

your majesty has given your devoted slave affords me a means of

curing the princess. As she was brought hither on this horse, and

the horse is enchanted, she hath contracted something of the

enchantment, which can be dissipated only by a certain incense

which I am acquainted with. If your majesty would entertain

yourself, your court, and the people of your capital, with the

most surprising sight that ever was beheld, let the horse be

brought into the great square before the palace, and leave the

rest to me. I promise to show you, and all that assembly, in a

few moments time, the princess of Bengal completely restored in

body and mind. But the better to effect what I propose, it will

be requisite that the princess, should be dressed as

magnificently as possible, and adorned with the most valuable

jewels your majesty may possess." The sultan would have

undertaken much more difficult things to have arrived at the

enjoyment of his desires, which he expected soon to accomplish.

The next day, the enchanted horse was, by his order, taken out of

the treasury, and placed early in the great square before the

palace. A report was spread through the town that there was

something extraordinary to be seen, and crowds of people flocked

thither from all parts, insomuch that the sultan's guards were

placed to prevent disorder, and to keep space enough round the

horse.

The sultan of Cashmeer, surrounded by all his nobles and

ministers of state, was placed on a scaffold erected on purpose.

The princess of Bengal, attended by a number of ladies whom the

sultan had assigned her, went up to the enchanted horse, and the

women helped her to mount. When she was fixed in the saddle, and

had the bridle in her hand, the pretended physician placed round

the horse at a proper distance many vessels full of lighted

charcoal, which he had ordered to be brought, and going round

them with a solemn pace, cast in a strong and grateful perfume;

then collected in himself, with downcast eyes, and his hands upon

his breast, he ran three times about the horse, making as if he

pronounced some mystical words. The moment the pots sent forth a

dark cloud of pleasant smell, which so surrounded the princess,

that neither she nor the horse could be discerned, watching his

opportunity, the prince jumped nimbly up behind her, and reaching

his hand to the peg, turned it; and just as the horse rose with

them into the air, he pronounced these words, which the sultan

heard distinctly, "Sultan of Cashmeer, when you would marry

princesses who implore your protection, learn first to obtain

their consent."

Thus the prince delivered the princess of Bengal, and carried her

the same day to the capital of Persia, where he alighted in the

square of the palace, before the emperor his father's apartment,

who deferred the solemnization of the marriage no longer than

till he could make the preparations necessary to render the

ceremony pompous and magnificent, and evince the interest he took

in it.

After the days appointed for the rejoicings were over, the

emperor of Persia's first care was to name and appoint an

ambassador to go to the Rajah of Bengal with an account of what

had passed, and to demand his approbation and ratification of the

alliance contracted by this marriage; which the Rajah of Bengal

took as an honour, and granted with great pleasure and

satisfaction.

THE STORY OF PRINCE AHMED, AND THE FAIRY

PERIE BANOU.

There was a sultan who had peaceably filled the throne of India

many years, and had the satisfaction in his old age to have three

sons the worthy imitators of his virtues, who, with the princess

his niece, were the ornaments of his court. The eldest of the

princes was called Houssain, the second Ali, the youngest Ahmed,

and the princess his niece Nouronnihar.

The princess Nouronnihar was the daughter of the younger brother

of the sultan, to whom in his lifetime he had allowed a

considerable revenue. But that prince had not been married long

before he died, and left the princess very young. The sultan, in

consideration of the brotherly love and friendship that had

always subsisted between them, besides a great attachment to his

person, took upon himself the care of his daughter's education,

and brought her up in his palace with the three princes; where

her singular beauty and personal accomplishments, joined to a

lively wit and irreproachable virtue, distinguished her among all

the princesses of her time.

The sultan, her uncle, proposed to marry her when she arrived at

a proper age, and by that means to contract an alliance with some

neighbouring prince; and was thinking seriously on the subject,

when he perceived that the three princes his sons loved her

passionately. This gave him much concern, though his grief did

not proceed from a consideration that their passion prevented his

forming the alliance he designed, but the difficulty he foresaw

to make them agree, and that the two youngest should consent to

yield her up to their eldest brother. He spoke to each of them

apart; and remonstrated on the impossibility of one princess

being the wife of three persons, and the troubles they would

create if they persisted in their attachment. He did all he could

to persuade them to abide by a declaration of the princess in

favour of one of them; or to desist from their pretensions, to

think of other matches which he left them free liberty to choose,

and suffer her to be married to a foreign attachment. But as he

found them obstinate, he sent for them all together, and said,

"My children, since I have not been able to dissuade you from

aspiring to marry the princess your cousin; and as I have no

inclination to use my authority, to give her to one in preference

to his brothers, I trust I have thought of an expedient which

will please you all, and preserve harmony among you, if you will

but hear me, and follow my advice. I think it would not be amiss

if you were to travel separately into different countries, so

that you might not meet each other: and as you know I am very

curious, and delight in every thing that is rare and singular, I

promise my niece in marriage to him who shall bring me the most

extraordinary rarity; chance may lead you to form your own

judgment of the singularity of the things which you bring, by the

comparison you make of them, so that you will have no difficulty

to do yourselves justice by yielding the preference to him who

has deserved it; and for the expense of travelling, I will give

each of you a sum suited to your rank, and for the purchase of

the rarity you shall search after; which shall not be laid out in

equipage and attendants, as much display, by discovering who you

are, would not only deprive you of the liberty to acquit

yourselves of your charge, but prevent your observing those

things which may merit your attention, and may be most useful to

you."

As the three princes were always submissive and obedient to the

sultan's will, and each flattered himself fortune might prove

favourable to him, and give him possession of the princess

Nouronnihar, they all consented to the proposal. The sultan gave

them the money he promised; and that very day they issued orders

for the preparations for their travels, and took leave of their

father, that they might be ready to set out early next morning.

They all went out at the same gate of the city, each dressed like

a merchant, attended by a trusty officer, habited as a slave, and

all well mounted and equipped. They proceeded the first day's

journey together; and slept at a caravanserai, where the road

divided into three different tracks. At night when they were at

supper together, they all agreed to travel for a year, to make

their present lodging their rendezvous; and that the first who

came should wait for the rest; that as they had all three taken

leave together of the sultan, they might return in company. The

next morning by break of day, after they had embraced and wished

each other reciprocally good success, they mounted their horses,

and took each a different road.

Prince Houssain, the eldest brother, who had heard wonders of the

extent, power, riches, and splendour of the kingdom of Bisnagar,

bent his course towards the Indian coast; and after three months'

travelling, joining himself to different caravans, sometimes over

deserts and barren mountains, and sometimes through populous and

fertile countries, arrived at Bisnagar, the capital of the

kingdom of that name, and the residence of its maharajah. He

lodged at a khan appointed for foreign merchants; and having

learnt that there were four principal divisions where merchants

of all sorts kept their shops, in the midst of which stood the

castle, or rather the maharajah's palace, on a large extent of

ground, as the centre of the city, surrounded by three courts,

and each gate distant two leagues from the other, he went to one

of these quarters the next day.

Prince Houssain could not view this quarter without admiration.

It was large, divided into several streets, all vaulted and

shaded from the sun, but yet very light. The shops were all of

the same size and proportion; and all who dealt in the same sort

of goods, as well as all the artists of the same profession,

lived in one street.

The number of shops stocked with all kinds of merchandizes, such

as the finest linens from several parts of India, some painted in

the most lively colours, and representing men, landscapes, trees,

and flowers; silks and brocades from Persia, China, and other

places; porcelain from Japan and China; foot carpets of all

sizes; surprised him so much, that he knew not how to believe his

eyes: but when he came to the shops of the goldsmiths and

jewellers (for those two trades were exercised by the same

merchants), he was in a kind of ecstasy, at beholding such

prodigious quantities of wrought gold and silver, and was dazzled

by the lustre of the pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and

other precious stones exposed to sale. But if he was amazed at

seeing so many treasures in one place, he was much more surprised

when he came to judge of the wealth of the whole kingdom, by

considering, that except the brahmins, and ministers of the

idols, who profess a life retired from worldly vanity, there was

not an Indian, man or woman, through the extent of the kingdom,

but wore necklaces, bracelets, and ornaments about their legs and

feet, made of pearls, and precious stones, which appeared with

the greater lustre, as they were blacks, which colour admirably

set off their brilliancy.

Another object which prince Houssain particularly admired was the

great number of flower-sellers who crowded the streets; for the

Indians are such great lovers of flowers that not one will stir

without a nosegay of them in his hand, or a garland of them on

his head; and the merchants keep them in pots in their shops, so

that the air of the whole quarter, however extensive, is

perfectly perfumed.

After prince Houssain had passed through that quarter, street by

street, his thoughts fully employed on the riches he had seen, he

was much fatigued; which a merchant perceiving, civilly invited

him to sit down in his shop. He accepted his offer; but had not

been seated long, before he saw a crier pass with a piece of

carpeting on his arm, about six feet square, and crying it at

thirty purses. The prince called to the crier, and asked to see

the carpeting, which seemed to him to be valued at an exorbitant

price, not only for the size of it, but the meanness of the

materials. When he had examined it well, he told the crier that

he could not comprehend how so small a piece of carpeting, and of

so indifferent an appearance, could be set at so high a price.

The crier, who took him for a merchant, replied, "Sir, if this

price seems so extravagant to you, your amazement will be greater

when I tell you, I have orders to raise it to forty purses, and

not to part with it under." "Certainly," answered prince

Houssain, "it must have something very extraordinary in it, which

I know nothing of." "You have guessed right, sir," replied the

crier, "and will own it when you come to know, that whoever sits

on this piece of carpeting may be transported in an instant

wherever he desires to be, without being stopped by any

obstacle."

At this account, the prince of the Indies, considering that the

principal motive of his tour was to carry the sultan his father

home some singular rarity, thought that he could not meet with

any which would afford him more satisfaction. "If the carpeting,"

said he to the crier, "has the virtue you attribute to it, I

shall not think forty purses too much; but shall make you a

present besides." "Sir," replied the crier, "I have told you the

truth; and it will be an easy matter to convince you of it, as

soon as you have made the bargain for forty purses, on condition

I shew you the experiment. But as I suppose you have not so much

with you, and to receive them, I must go with you to the khan

where you lodge; with the leave of the master of this shop we

will go into the back warehouse, where I will spread the

carpeting; and when we have both sat down, and you have formed

the wish to be transported into your apartment at the khan, if we

are not conveyed thither, it shall be no bargain, and you shall

be at your liberty. As to your present, as I am paid for my

trouble by the seller, I shall receive it as a favour, and feel

much obliged by your liberality."

On this assurance of the crier, the prince accepted the

conditions, and concluded the bargain; then having obtained the

master's leave, they went into his back-shop, where they both sat

down on the carpeting; and as soon as the prince had formed his

wish to be transported into his apartment at the khan, he in an

instant found himself and the crier there: as he wanted not a

more convincing proof of the virtue of the carpeting, he counted

to the crier forty purses of gold, and gave him twenty pieces for

himself.

In this manner prince Houssain became the possessor of the

carpeting, and was overjoyed that at his arrival at Bisnagar he

had found so rare a curiosity, which he never doubted must of

course gain him the possession of Nouronnihar. In short, he

thought it impossible for the princes, his younger brothers, to

meet with any thing to be compared with it. It was in his power,

by sitting on this carpeting, to be at the place of rendezvous

that very day; but as he would be obliged to wait there for his

brothers, as they had agreed, and as he was desirous of seeing

the maharajah of Bisnagar and his court, and to inform himself of

the strength, laws, customs, and religion of the kingdom, he

chose to make a longer abode in this capital, and to spend some

months in satisfying his curiosity.

It was the custom of the maharajah of Bisnagar to give all

foreign merchants access to his person once a week; so that in

his assumed character prince Houssain saw him often: and as this

prince was of an engaging presence, sensible and accomplished, he

distinguished himself among the merchants, and was preferred

before them all by the maharajah, who addressed himself to him to

be informed of the person of the sultan of the Indies, and of the

government, strength, and riches of his dominions.

The rest of his time the prince employed in viewing what was most

remarkable in and about the city; and among the objects which

were most worthy of admiration, he visited a temple remarkable

for being built all of brass. It was ten cubits square, and

fifteen high; but its greatest ornament was an idol of the height

of a man, of massive gold; its eyes were two rubies, set so

artificially, that it seemed to look at those who viewed it, on

which side soever they turned: besides this, there was another

not less curious, in the environs of the city, in the midst of a

lawn of about ten acres, which was like a delicious garden full

of roses and the choicest flowers, surrounded by a low wall,

breast high, to keep out the cattle. In the midst of this lawn

was raised a terrace, a man's height, and covered with such

beautiful cement, that the whole pavement seemed to be but one

single stone, most highly polished. A temple was erected in the

middle of this terrace, having a spire rising about fifty cubits

high from the building, which might be seen for several leagues

round. The temple was thirty cubits long, and twenty broad; built

of red marble, highly polished. The inside of the spire was

adorned with three compartments of fine paintings: and there was

not a part in the whole edifice but what was embellished with

paintings, or relievos, and gaudy idols from top to bottom.

Every night and morning there were superstitious ceremonies

performed in this temple, which were always succeeded by sports,

concerts of music, dancing, singing, and feasts. The brahmins of

the temple, and the inhabitants of this suburb, had nothing to

subsist on but the offerings of pilgrims, who came in crowds from

the most distant parts of the kingdom to perform their vows.

Prince Houssain was also spectator of a solemn festival, which

was celebrated every year at the court of Bisnagar, at which all

the governors of provinces, commanders of fortified places, all

heads and magistrates of towns, and the brahmins most celebrated

for their learning, were usually present; and some lived so far

off, that they were four months in coming. This assembly,

composed of such innumerable multitudes of Hindoos encamped in

variously coloured tents, on a plain of vast extent, was a

splendid sight, as far as the eye could reach. In the centre of

this plain was a square of great length and breadth, closed on

one side by a large scaffolding of nine stories, supported by

forty pillars, raised for the maharajah and his court, and those

strangers whom he admitted to audience once a week: within, it

was adorned and furnished magnificently with rich carpets and

cushions; and on the outside were painted landscapes, wherein all

sorts of beasts, birds, and insects, even flies and gnats, were

drawn very naturally. Other scaffolds of at least four or five

stories, and painted almost all with the same fanciful

brilliancy, formed the other three sides. But what was more

particular in these scaffolds, they could turn, and make them

change their fronts so as to present different decorations to the

eye every hour.

On each side of the square, at some little distance from each

other, were ranged a thousand elephants, sumptuously caparisoned,

each having upon his back a square wooden stage, finely gilt,

upon which were musicians and buffoons. The trunks, ears, and

bodies of these elephants were painted with cinnabar and other

colours, representing grotesque figures.

But what prince Houssain most of all admired, as a proof of the

industry, address, and inventive genius of the Hindoos, was to

see the largest of these elephants stand with his four feet on a

post fixed into the earth, and standing out of it above two feet,

playing and beating time with his trunk to the music. Besides

this, he admired another elephant as large as the former, placed

upon a plank, laid across a strong beam about ten feet high, with

a sufficiently heavyweight at the other end, which balanced him,

while he kept time, by the motions of his body and trunk, with

the music, as well as the other elephant. The Hindoos, after

having fastened on the counterpoise, had drawn the other end of

the board down to the ground, and made the elephant get upon it.

Prince Houssain might have made a longer stay in the kingdom and

court of Bisnagar, where he would have been agreeably diverted by

a great variety of other wonders, till the last day of the year,

whereon he and his brothers had appointed to meet. But he was so

well satisfied with what he had seen, and his thoughts ran so

much upon the object of his love, that after such success in

meeting with his carpet, reflecting on the beauty and charms of

the princess Nouronnihar increased every day the violence of his

passion, and he fancied he should be the more easy and happy the

nearer he was to her. After he had satisfied the master of the

khan for his apartment, and told him the hour when he might come

for the key, without mentioning how he should travel, he shut the

door, put the key on the outside, and spreading the carpet, he

and the officer he had brought with him sat down upon it, and as

soon as he had formed his wish, were transported to the

caravanserai at which he and his brothers were to meet, and where

he passed for a merchant till their arrival.

Prince Ali, the second brother, who had designed to travel into

Persia, in conformity with the intention of the sultan of the

Indies, took that road, having three days after he parted with

his brothers joined a caravan; and in four months arrived at

Sheerauz, which was then the capital of the empire of Persia; and

having in the way contracted a friendship with some merchants,

passed for a jeweller, and lodged in the same khan with them.

The next morning, while the merchants opened their bales of

merchandises, prince Ali, who travelled only for his pleasure,

and had brought nothing but necessaries with him, after he had

dressed himself, took a walk into that quarter of the town where

they sold precious stones, gold and silver works, brocades,

silks, fine linens, and other choice and valuable articles, and

which was at Sheerauz called the bezestein. It was a spacious and

well-built street, arched over, within the arcades of which were

shops. Prince Ali soon rambled through the bezestein, and with

admiration judged of the riches of the place by the prodigious

quantities of the most precious merchandises exposed to view.

But among the criers who passed backwards and forwards with

several sorts of goods, offering to sell them, he was not a

little surprised to see one who held in his hand an ivory tube,

of about a foot in length, and about an inch thick, which he

cried at forty purses. At first he thought the crier mad, and to

inform himself, went to a shop, and said to the merchant who

stood at the door, "Pray, sir, is not that man" (pointing to the

crier, who cried the ivory tube at forty purses) "mad? If he is

not, I am much deceived." "Indeed, sir," answered the merchant,

"he was in his right senses yesterday; and I can assure you he is

one of the ablest criers we have, and the most employed of any,

as being to be confided in when any thing valuable is to be sold;

and if he cries the ivory tube at forty purses, it must be worth

as much or more, on some account or other which does not appear.

He will come by presently, when we will call him, and you shall

satisfy yourself: in the mean time sit down on my sofa, and rest

yourself."

Prince Ali accepted the merchant's obliging offer, and presently

afterwards the crier arrived. The merchant called him by his

name, and pointing to the prince, said to him, "Tell that

gentleman, who asked me if you were in your right senses, what

you mean by crying that ivory tube, which seems not to be worth

much, at forty purses? I should indeed be much amazed myself, if

I did not know you were a sensible man." The crier, addressing

himself to prince Ali, said, "Sir, you are not the only person

that takes me for a madman, on account of this tube; you shall

judge yourself whether I am or no, when I have told you its

property; and I hope you will value it at as high a price as

those I have shewed it to already, who had as bad an opinion of

me as you have.

"First, sir," pursued the crier, presenting the ivory tube to the

prince, "observe, that this tube is furnished with a glass at

both ends; by looking through one of them, you will see whatever

object you wish to behold." "I am," said the prince, "ready to

make you all proper reparation for the reflection I have cast

upon you, if you can make the truth of what you advance appear;

and" (as he had the ivory tube in his hand, after he had looked

at the two glasses), he said, "shew me at which of these ends I

must look, that I may be satisfied." The crier presently shewed

him, and he looked through; wishing, at the same time, to see the

sultan his father, whom he immediately beheld in perfect health,

sitting on his throne, in the midst of his council. Next, as

there was nothing in the world so dear to him, after the sultan,

as the princess Nouronnihar, he wished to see her; and instantly

beheld her laughing, and in a gay humour, with her women about

her.

Prince All wanted no other proof to persuade him that this tube

was the most valuable article, not only in the city of Sheerauz,

but in all the world; and believed, that if he should neglect to

purchase it, he should never meet with an equally wonderful

curiosity. He said to the crier, "I am very sorry that I have

entertained so erroneous an opinion of you, but hope to make

amends by buying the tube, for I should be sorry if any body else

had it; so tell me the lowest price the owner has fixed; and do

not give yourself any farther trouble to hawk it about, but go

with me and I will pay you the money." The crier assured him,

with an oath, that his last orders were to take no less than

forty purses; and if he disputed the truth of what he said, he

would carry him to his employer. The prince believed him, took

him to the khan where he lodged, told him out the money, and

received the tube.

Prince Ali was overjoyed at his purchase; and persuaded himself,

that as his brothers would not be able to meet with any thing so

rare and admirable, the princess Nouronnihar must be the

recompense of his fatigue and travels. He thought now of only

visiting the court of Persia incognito, and seeing whatever was

curious in and about Sheerauz, till the caravan with which he

came might be ready to return to the Indies. He satisfied his

curiosity, and when the caravan took its departure, the prince

joined the former party of merchants his friends, and arrived

happily without any accident or trouble, further than the length

of the journey and fatigue of travelling, at the place of

rendezvous, where he found prince Houssain, and both waited for

prince Ahmed.

Prince Ahmed took the road of Samarcand, and the day after his

arrival, went, as his brothers had done, into the bezestein;

where he had not walked long before he heard a crier, who had an

artificial apple in his hand, cry it at five-and-thirty purses.

He stopped the crier, and said to him, "Let me see that apple,

and tell me what virtue or extraordinary property it possesses,

to be valued at so high a rate?" "Sir," replied the crier, giving

it into his hand, "if you look at the mere outside of this apple

it is not very remarkable; but if you consider its properties,

and the great use and benefit it is of to mankind, you will say

it is invaluable, and that he who possesses it is master of a

great treasure. It cures all sick persons of the most mortal

diseases, whether fever, pleurisy, plague, or other malignant

distempers; for even if the patient is dying, it will recover him

immediately, and restore him to perfect health: and this merely

by the patient's smelling to it."

"If one may believe you," replied prince Ahmed, "the virtues of

this apple are wonderful, and it is indeed invaluable: but what

ground has the purchaser to be persuaded that there is no

exaggeration in the high praises you bestow on it?" "Sir,"

replied the crier, "the truth is known by the whole city of

Samarcand; but without going any farther, ask all these merchants

you see here, and hear what they say; you will find several of

them will tell you they had not been alive this day had they not

made use of this excellent remedy; and that you may the better

comprehend what it is, I must tell you it is the fruit of the

study and experience of a celebrated philosopher of this city,

who applied himself all his lifetime to the knowledge of the

virtues of plants and minerals, and at last attained to this

composition, by which he performed such surprising cures, as will

never be forgotten; but died suddenly himself, before he could

apply his own sovereign remedy; and left his wife and a great

many young children behind in very indifferent circumstances,

who, to support her family, and to provide for her children, has

resolved to sell it."

While the crier was detailing to prince Ahmed the virtues of the

artificial apple, many persons came about them, and confirmed

what he declared; and one amongst the rest said he had a friend

dangerously ill, whose life was despaired of; which was a

favourable opportunity to shew the experiment. Upon which prince

Ahmed told the crier he would give him forty purses for the apple

if it cured the sick person by smelling to it.

The crier, who had orders to sell it at that price, said to

prince Ahmed, "Come, sir, let us go and make the experiment, and

the apple shall be yours; and I say this with the greater

confidence, as it is an undoubted fact that it will always have

the same effect, as it already has had whenever it has been

applied to save from death so many persons whose lives were

despaired of." In short, the experiment succeeded; and the

prince, after he had counted out to the crier forty purses, and

had received the apple from him, waited with the greatest

impatience for the departure of a caravan for the Indies. In the

mean time he saw all that was curious at and about Samarcand, and

principally the valley of Sogd, which is reckoned by the Arabians

one of the four paradises of this world, for the beauty of its

fields, gardens, and palaces, and for its fertility in fruit of

all sorts, and all the other pleasures enjoyed there in the fine

season.

Ahmed joined himself to the first caravan that set out for the

Indies, and notwithstanding the inevitable inconveniences of so

long a journey, arrived in perfect health at the caravanserai,

where the princes Houssain and Ali waited for him.

Ali, who had arrived some time before Ahmed, asked Houssain how

long he had been there? who told him, "Three months;" to which he

replied, "Then certainly you have not been very far." "I will

tell you nothing now," said prince Houssain, "of where I have

been, but only assure you, I was above three months travelling to

the place I went to." "But then," replied prince Ali, "you made a

short stay there." "Indeed, brother," said prince Houssain, "you

are mistaken; I resided at one place above four months, and might

have stayed longer." "Unless you flew back," returned Ali again,

"I cannot comprehend how you can have been three months here, as

you would make me believe."

"I tell you the truth," added Houssain, "and it is a riddle which

I shall not explain to you, till our brother Ahmed joins us; when

I will let you know what rarity I have purchased in my travels. I

know not what you have got, but believe it to be some trifle,

because I do not perceive that your baggage is increased." "And

pray what have you brought?" demanded prince Ali, "for I can see

nothing but an ordinary piece of carpeting, with which you cover

your sofa; and therefore I think I may return your raillery; and

as you seem to make what you have brought a secret, you cannot

take it amiss that I do the same with respect to what I have

procured."

"I consider the rarity I have purchased," replied Houssain, "to

excel all others whatever, and should not make any difficulty to

shew it you, and make you allow that it is so, and at the same

time tell you how I came by it, without being in the least

apprehensive that what you have got is to be preferred to it: but

it is proper that we should wait till our brother Ahmed arrives,

when we may communicate our good fortune to each other."

Prince All would not enter into a dispute with prince Houssain on

the preference he gave his rarity, but was persuaded, that if his

perspective glass was not preferable, it was impossible it should

be inferior to it; and therefore agreed to stay till prince Ahmed

arrived, to produce his purchase.

When prince Ahmed joined his brothers, they embraced with

tenderness, and complimented each other on the happiness of

meeting together at the same place they had set out from.

Houssain, as the eldest brother, then assumed the discourse, and

said to them, "Brothers, we shall have time enough hereafter to

entertain ourselves with the particulars of our travels. Let us

come to that which is of the greatest importance for us to know;

and as I do not doubt you remember the principal motive which

engaged us to travel, let us not conceal from each other the

curiosities we have brought, but shew them, that we may do

ourselves justice beforehand, and judge to which of us the sultan

our father may give the preference.

"To set the example," continued Houssain, "I will tell you, that

the rarity which I have brought from the kingdom of Bisnagar is

the carpeting on which I sit, which looks but ordinary, and makes

no shew; but when I have declared its virtues, you will be struck

with admiration, and confess you never heard of any thing like

it. Whoever sits on it, as we do, and desires to be transported

to any place, be it ever so far distant, he is immediately

carried thither. I made the experiment myself, before I paid the

forty purses, which I most readily gave for it; and when I had

fully satisfied my curiosity at the court of Bisnagar, and wished

to return here, I made use of no other conveyance than this

wonderful carpet for myself and servant, who can tell you how

long we were on our journey. I will shew you both the experiment

whenever you please. I expect now that you should tell me whether

what you have brought is to be compared with this carpet."

Here prince Houssain finished his commendations of the excellency

of his carpet; and prince Ali, addressing himself to him, said,

"I must own, brother, that your carpet is one of the most

surprising curiosities, if it has, as I do not doubt, the

property you speak of. But you must allow that there may be other

rarities, I will not say more, but at least as wonderful, in

another way; and to convince you there are, here is an ivory

tube, which appears to the eye no more a prodigy than your

carpet; it cost me as much, and I am as well satisfied with my

purchase as you can be with yours; and you will be so just as to

own that I have not been imposed upon, when you shall know by

experience, that by looking at one end you see whatever object

you wish to behold. I would not have you take my word," added

prince Ali, presenting the tube to him; "take it, make trial of

it yourself."

Houssain took the ivory tube from prince Ali, and put that end to

his eye which Ali directed, with an intention to see the princess

Nouronnihar; when Ali and prince Ahmed, who kept their eyes fixed

upon him, were extremely surprised to see his countenance change

in such a manner, as expressed extraordinary alarm and

affliction. Prince Houssain did not give them time to ask what

was the matter, but cried out, "Alas! princes, to what purpose

have we undertaken such long and fatiguing journeys, but with the

hopes of being recompensed by the possession of the charming

Nouronnihar, when in a few moments that lovely princess will

breathe her last. I saw her in her bed, surrounded by her women

and eunuchs, all in tears, who seem to expect her death. Take the

tube, behold yourselves the miserable state she is in, and mingle

your tears with mine."

Prince Ali took the tube out of Houssain's hand, and after he had

seen the same object with sensible grief, presented it to Ahmed,

who took it, to behold the melancholy sight which so much

concerned them all.

When prince Ahmed had taken the tube out of Ali's hands, and saw

that the princess Nouronnihar's end was so near, he addressed

himself to his two brothers, and said, "Princes, the princess

Nouronnihar, equally the object of our vows, is indeed just at

death's door; but provided we make haste and lose no time, we may

preserve her life." He then took the artificial apple out of his

bosom, and shewing it to his brothers, resumed, "This apple cost

me as much and more than either the carpet or tube. The

opportunity which now presents itself to shew you its wonderful

property makes me not regret the forty purses I gave for it. But

not to keep you longer in suspense, it has this virtue; if a sick

person smells to it, though in the last agonies, it will restore

him to perfect health immediately. I have made the experiment,

and can show you its wonderful effect on the person of the

princess Nouronnihar, if we hasten to assist her."

"If that be all," replied prince Houssain, "we cannot make more

dispatch than by transporting ourselves instantly into her

chamber by means of my carpet. Come, lose no time, sit down, it

is large enough to hold us all: but first let us give orders to

our servants to set out immediately, and join us at the palace."

As soon as the order was given, the princes Ali and Ahmed sat

down by Houssain, and as their interest was the same, they all

framed the same wish, and were transported instantaneously into

the princess Nouronnihar's chamber.

The presence of the three princes, who were so little expected,

alarmed the princess's women and eunuchs, who could not

comprehend by what enchantment three men should be among them;

for they did not know them at first; and the eunuchs were ready

to fall upon them, as people who had got into a part of the

palace where they were not allowed to come; but they presently

found their mistake.