46 Prince Beder and

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keep it, I only beg of your majesty to delay doing Be: great
honour to my. nephew till- you shall again pass this -way.’-

-¢ That -shall be to-morrow,’ -said the queen, who inclined her
head, as a, token of pepe: ee and so went forward Soa
her palace. -- 2 ; a

When Queen, ‘Labe and all her attendants - were out of sight, the
good. Abdallah said ‘to King: Beder; ‘Son; (for so he: was, wont to
call him, for. fear*of some time or, other betraying him when he
spoke of him in -public), ‘it has not. been in my power, as you
may have observed, to refuse the queen what she demanded ‘of
me with-so great earnestness, for fear 1, might force ‘her to employ
her magic both. against you and myself openly or secretly, and
treat’ you, as much from: resentment to you as to me, with more
signal cruelty ‘than all those she has had in her power ‘before.
But.I haye some reason to believe she will treat ‘you. well, as she
promised, on: account of that. particular esteem she- professes for,
me. This‘you may have seen by- the respect shown, and the honours
paid me by all her court.. She would be a fiendish creature indeed,
if she should deceive ine ; but she shall, not deceive me uprevenged,
for I‘know how to: be even ‘with her.’ ae >
_‘Fhese assurances, | * which eoeerei very - - doubtful, : 2 Sele onot
‘sufficient to raise King Beder’s spirits. £ After all you have. told
me; of this’ queen’s wickedness, replied he, ‘you cannot wonder

_if I-am’somewhat fearful to: ‘approach her: I might, it may be, make
little of all you could tell me. of her, did not know by experience
what it is to be at the mercy of a sorceress. The condition I was
in, through. the enchantment ‘of the Princess-Giauhara, and from
whence 1. was- delivered only. to- enter. almost ay into
another, has made ‘me*look upon. such a fate with horrors. 8"

§Son; ‘replied old Abdallah, ‘do not afflict yourself ;. for euch
I must. own: there is no. great’ faith to be put in the .promisés
and oaths of -SO perfidious a- queen, yet I; must. withal: tell. you