and the Princess of the Sea 4a. 2

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him to be the king; but without showing the least surprise, or .so
much as rising from her seat to salute or receive him, she turned back
to the window again as iS he had been the most insignificant person
in the world.

The King of Persia was extremely surprised to see a slave of
so beauteous a form so very ignorant of the world. He attributed
this to the narrowness of her education, and the little care that had
been taken to instruct her in the first rules of civility. He went
to her at the window, where, notwithstanding the coldness and
indifference with which she had just now received him, she suffered
herself to be admired, kissed, and embraced as much as he pleased,
-but answered him not a word.

“My dearest life,’ said the king, ‘you neither answer, nor by any
visible token give me the least reason to believe that you are
listening to me. Why will you still keep to this obstinate silence,
which chills me? Do you mourn for your country, your friends, or
your relations? Alas! is not the King of Persia, who loves and
adores you, capable of comforting, and making you amends for the
loss of everything in the world?’

But the fair slave continued her astonishing reserve ; and keeping
-her eyes still fixed upon the ground, would neither look at him
‘nor utter a word; but after they had dined together in absolute
silence, the king went to the women whom he had assigned to
the fair slave as her attendants, and asked them if ey had ever
heard her speak. .

One of them presently made answer, ‘Sire, we have neither seen
her open her lips, nor heard her speak ‘any more than your majesty
has just now; we have reridered her our servicés; we have combed
and dressed her hair, put on her clothes, and waited upon her in her
chamber ; but she has never opened her lips, so much as to say,
That is eit or, I like this. We have often asked, Madam, do you
want anything? Is there anything you wish for? Do but ask and

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