the Princess of China ~— | oh 11S

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marriage, yet would not charge him with disobedience, nor exert
his paternal authority. He contented himself with telling him he
would not force his inclinations, but give him time to consider
the proposal.

The sultan said no more to the prince: he admitted him into his
council, and gave him every reason to be satisfied. At the end ot
the year he took him aside, and said to him,‘ My son, have you
thoroughly considered what J proposed to you last year about
marrying? Will you still refuse me that pleasure I expect from
your obedience, and suffer me to die without it ??

The prince seemed less disconcerted than. before, and was not
long answering his father to this effect: ‘Sir, I have not neglected
to consider your proposal, but after the maturest reflection find
myself more confirmed in my resolution to continue as I am, so
that I hope your majesty will pardon me if I presume to tell you
it will be in vain to speak to me any further about marriage’ He
stopped here, and went out without staying to.hear what the sultan
would answer. ot ;

Any other monarch would have been “very angry at such.
freedom in a son, and would have made him repent it, but the
sultan loved him, and preferred gentle methods before he proceeded
_to compulsion. He communicated this new cause of discontent to
his prime minister. ‘I have followed your advice,’ said he, ‘but
Camaralzaman is further than ever from complying with my desires.
He delivered his resolution in such free terms that it required all
my reason and moderation to keep my temper. Tell me, I beseech
‘you, how I shall reclaim a disposition so rebellious to my will?’

‘ Sir” answered the grand vizier, ‘patience brings many things
about that before seemed impracticable, but it may be this affair
is of a nature not likely to succeed in that way. Your majesty
would have no cause to reproach’ yourself if you gave the prince
another year to consider the matter. If, in this: interval he

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