194 xs | _the Story of

Every ten days, continued the princess, ‘the genie comes hither
to see me. Meanwhile, if I have occasion for him by day or night,
as soon as I touch a talisman which is at the entrance into my
chamber, the genie appears.. It is now the fourth day since. he
was here, and I do not expect him before the end of six more;
so, if you please, -you. may stay five days and keep me com-
pany, and I will endeavour to entertain you acconding to your rank
and merit’

I thought myself too fortunate in having obtained so great
a favour without asking it to refuse so obliging an offer. The
princess made me go into a bath, which was the most sumptuous
that could be imagined; and when I came forth, instead of my
own clothes, I found another very costly suit, which I did not esteem
so much for its richness as because it made me look worthy to
be in her company. We sat down on a sofa covered with. .rich
tapestry, with cushions to lean upon of the rarest Indian brocade;
and soon after she covered a table with several dishes of delicate
meats. We ate together, and passed the remaining part of the
day with much satisfaction. ;

The next day, as she contrived every means to please’ me, she
brought in, at dinner, a bottle of old wine, the most excellent that
ever was tasted; and out of complaisance she drank some part of it
- with me. When my head grew hot with the agreeable liquor, ‘Fair
' princess,’ said I, ‘you-have been too long thus buried alive: follow
me, and enjoy the real day, from which you have been deprived so
‘many years, and abandon this false light that you have here.’

‘Prince, replied she, with a smile, ‘stop this discourse; if out
of ten days you will grant me nine, and resign the last to the genie,
the fairest day that ever was would be nothing in my esteem.’

‘ Princess, said I, ‘it is the fear of the genie that makes you. speak
thus ; for my part, I value him so little that I will break his talisman -
in pieces, Let him come, I will expect him; and how btave or

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