and the Fairy <2 Be IOI

I have not yet made any experiment of or thought of, and should
be very glad if you would dispense with my undertaking it, and
let me enjoy the happiness of loving and being beloved with all:
the disinterestedness I proposed to myself. But the demand of.
a father is a command upon every child who, like me, thinks
it his. duty to obey him in everything. And though it is. with.
the greatest reluctance imaginable, I will not fail to ask my wife.
the favour your majesty desires, but will not promise to obtain
5 it; and if I should not. have the honour to come again to pay’
you my respects, that shall be the sign that I have not had.
success: but I desire you to forgive me beforehand, and consider:
that you yourself have reduced me to this extremity.’

‘Son, replied the Sultan of the Indies, ‘I should be very
sorry: that what I ask of you should prevent my ever seeing:
you again. Go, only ask her. Think with yourself,. that as you
love her, you could refuse: her nothing ; therefore, if she loves you,:
she will not deny your. request.’ .
- All this discourse of the Sultan of the Indies could not ade
Prince. Ahmed, who would rather he -had asked anything: than.
the risk of displeasing his dear Pari Banou; and so great was
his vexation, that he left the court two days sooner than usual.

When he returned, the fairy, to whom he had- -always before
appeared with a cheerful countenance, asked him the reason of the
alteration; and finding that instead of answering her, he inquired after
her health to avoid satisfying her, she said to him, ‘I will answer
your question when you have answered mine.’ “Fhe prince declined
it a long time, protesting that nothing was the matter with him;
but the more he denied it, the more she pressed him, and a
«I cannot bear to see you in this condition: tell me what makes
you so uneasy, that I may remove the cause of it, whatever it may
be; for it must be very: extraordinary if itis. out of my power,’

Prince Ahmed could not long. withstand the fairy. ‘Madam,’