the Princess of China 3 & 117

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him look on his imprisonment with indifference. In the evening he
bathed and said his prayers; and after having read some chapters
in the Koran, with the same tranquillity of mind as if he had been
in the sultan’s palace, he undressed himself and went to bed, leaving
his lamp burning by him all the while he slept.

In this tower was a well, which served in the daytime for a retreat
to a certain fairy, named Maimoune, daughter of Damriat, king
or head of a legion of genies. It was about midnight when
Maimoune sprang lightly to the mouth of the well, to wander about
the world after her wonted custom, where her curiosity led her. She
was surprised to see a light in Prince Camaralzaman’s chamber, and
entered, without stopping, over the slave who lay at the door.

Prince Camaralzaman had but half-covered his face with the bed-
clothes, and Maimoune perceived the finest young man she had seen
in all her rambles through .the world. ‘What crime can he have
committed,’ said she to herself, ‘that a man of his high rank can
deserve to be treated thus séverely?’ for she had aoe heard his
story, and could hardly believe it.

She could not forbear admiring the prince, till at length, having
kissed him gently on both cheeks and in the middle of the fore-
head without waking him, she took her flight into the air. As she
mounted high to the middle region, she heard a great flapping of
wings, which made her fly that way; and when she approached, she
knew it was a genie who made the noise, but it was one of those that
are rebellious. As for Maimoune, she belonged to that class whom
the great Solomon compelled to acknowledge him.

This genie, whose name was Danhasch, knew Maimoune, and
was seized with fear, being sensible how much power she had over
him by her submission to the Almighty. He would fain have
avoided, her, but she was so near him that he must either fight or
yield. He therefore broke silence first.

- ‘Brave Maimoune, said he, in the tone of a suppliant, ‘swear to