138 & Prince Camaralzaman and

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After several years’ absence in foreign parts on this account, he
returned to the capital city of his. native country, China, where
seeing so many heads on the gate by which he. entered, he was
exceedingly surprised; and coming home he demanded for what
reason they had been placed there, but more especially he inquired
after the princess his foster-sister, whom he-had not forgotten.
As he could not receive an answer to one inquiry without the other,
he heard at length a general account with much sorrow, waiting
till he could learn more from his mother, the princess’s nurse.

Although the nurse, mother to Marzavan, was very much taken
up with the princess, she no sooner heard that her dear son had
returned than she found time to come out, embrace him, and
converse with him a little. Having told him, with tears in her
eyes, what a sad condition the princess was in, and for what. reason
the king her father had shut her up, he desired to know of
his mother if she could not procure him a private sight of her
royal mistress, without the king’s knowing it. After some pause,
she told him she could.say nothing for the present, but if he
would meet her the next aay at the same hour, she would give
him an answer: 1 ee

The nurse knowing that none could approach the princess but
herself without leave of the officer who commanded the guard at the
gate, addressed herself to him, who she knew had- been so lately
appointed that he could know nothing of what had passed at
the court of China. *You know, said she to him, ‘I have brought
up the princess, and you may- likewise have heard that I had a
daughter whom I brought up along with her. This daughter has
since been married; yet the princess still does her the honour to
love her, and would fain see her, but without amy body perceiving
her coming in or out.’

The’ nurse would have gorie on, but the officer .cried, ‘ Say no

more; I will with pleasure do anything to oblige the princess ;,