and the Fairy — ? oo 103

 

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a man to carry in his hand. Once more. remember it is not lee
but the sultan my father who asks this favour.’

‘Prince, replied the fairy, smiling, ‘I am sorry. that so small
a matter should disturb you, and make you so uneasy. I see plainly
two things have contributed towards it: one is, the law you have
imposed upon yourself, to be content with loving me and being
beloved by me, and to deny yourself the liberty of asking me
the least favour that might try my power. The other, I do not
doubt, whatever you may say, was that you thought what your
father asked of me was out of my power. As to the first, J
commend you for it, and shall love you the better, if possible ; and
for the second, I must tell you that what the sultan your father
asks of me is a trifle; and upon occasion, I can do much more
difficult things. Therefore be easy, and persuaded’ that, far from
feeling worried, I shall always take great pleasure in whatever

_-you can desire me to do for your sake.” Then the fairy sent for
her treasurer, to whom she said ‘Nourgihan’ (which was her name),

‘bring me the largest pavilion in my treasury.’ Nourgihan returned
presently with a pavilion, which could not only be held but concealed
in the palm of the hand when it was closed, and presented it to
her mistress, who gave it to Prince Ahmed to look at.

When Prince Ahmed saw the pavilion, which the fairy called
the largest in her treasury, he fancied she was joking, and his surprise
appeared in his face. Pari Banou burst out laughing. ‘What!
Prince, cried she, ‘do you think I jest with you? You will see
presently ‘that I am in earnest. Nourgihan’ said she to her
treasurer, taking the tent out of Prince Ahmed’s hands, ‘go and

-set it up, thatethe prince may judge whether the sultan his father

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will think it large enough.’
The treasurer immediately went out from the palace, and carried
it to such a distance that when she had set it up one end reached to ~

the palace. The prince, so far from thinking it small, found it large 7