118 & Prince Camaralzaman and

—i-

 

me that you will not hurt me; and I swear also on my spare not to do .
you any harm.’

‘Cursed genie,’ replied Maimoune, ‘what hurt canst thou do me?
I fear thee not; but I will grant thee this favour; I will swear not to
do thee any harm. , Tell me then, wandering spirit, whence thou
comest, what thou hast seen, and what thou hast done this night.

‘Fair lady, answered Danhasch, ‘you meet me at a good time
to hear something very wonderful. I come from the utmost limits
of China, which look on the last islands of this hemisphere. But,
charming Maimoune, said Danhasch, who so trembled with fear. at
the sight of this fairy that he could hardly speak, ‘promise me at
least that you will forgive me, and Ise me go on after I have sarishicd
your demands,’

‘Go on, go on, cursed spirit, replied Maimoune; ‘go on and fear
nothing. Dost thou think Iam as perfidious an elf as thyself, and
capable of breaking the solemn oath I have made? ‘Be sure you tell
nothing but what is true, or I shall clip thy “ and treat thee as
thou deservest.’ :

‘Danhasch, a little heartened at the words of. Maimoune, said,
‘My dear lady, I will tell you nothing but what is strictly true, if
you will but have the goodness to hear me. The country of China,;
from whence I come, is one of the largest and most powerful king-
doms of the earth. The king of this country is at present Gaiour,
who has an only daughter, the finest maiden that ever was seen in
the world since it was a world. Neither you nor I, nor your.class
nor mine, nor all our respective genies, have expressions. “strong
enough, nor eloquence sufficient to describe this brilliant lady.’ Any
one that did not know the king, father of this incomparable princess
would scarcely be able to imagine the great respect and kindness he
shows her. No one has ever dreamed of such care as his. to keep :
her from every one but the man who is to marry her: and, that the
‘retreat which he has resolved to place her in may not seem irksome