-and--the-Princess—of-the-Sea-— we 15

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much love and tenderness for her, that we could never think of
parting with her to any of the puissant. princes. of the sea, who
often demanded her in marriage before she came of age: Heaven
has reserved her for you, Sir, and we have no better way of returning
thanks to it for the favour it has done her, than by beseeching it
to: grant your majesty a long and happy life with her, and to
crown you‘with prosperity andvsatisfaction’ = = ain v5

_. Certainly,’ replied the King of. -Persia, ‘I - cannot sufficiently
thank either the queen her mother, or you, Prince, or your whole
family, for the generosity with which you have consented to receive
me into an alliance so glorious to me as yours.’ So saying, he-in-
vited them to take part of the-luncheon, and he and his queen sat
down at the table with them. After it was over, the ‘King of Persia
conversed with them till it was very late; and when they thought
it time to retire, he waited upon them Bimeele to the several rooms
he had ordered to be prepared for. them.

. Next day, as the King of Persia, Queen Gulnare, the queen. her
mother, King ‘Saleh her brother, and the princesses their relations,
were discoursing together in her .majesty’s room, the nurse came
in .with the young Prince Beder in her arms. -King Saleh no sooner
saw him, than he ran. to embrace him; and taking him in his arms,
fell to kissing and. caressing him with.the greatest demonstration
‘of tenderness. He took several turns- with him about the room,
dancing and tossing him about, when all of a sudden, through
a transport of joy; the window being open, he ae out, and

' plunged with-him into the sea, ’

' The King of Persia, who expected no. ‘Such sight, set upa Beate
‘cry, verily believing that he should either see the dear prince his son
no more, or else that he should see him drowned ; and he nearly died
of grief and affliction. Sir? said Queen Gulnare (with a quiet and
undisturbed countenance, the better to comfort him), ‘let. your
‘majesty fear nothing; *the young prince is my son as well as yours,