THE THIRD CALENDER. Iir

whose beauty was so perfect that it was impossible for the
imagination to form to itself anything beyond it. They were all
very magnificently dressed, and as soon as they perceived me
they got up, and, without waiting for me to pay my compliments,
they called out, with appearance of great joy, “ Welcome, my
brave lord, you are welcome ;” and one of them speaking for
the rest, said, “We have a long time expected a person like
you. Your manner sufficiently shews that you possess all the
good qualities we could wish, and we hope that you will not
find our company either disagreeable or unworthy of you.”
After some resistance on my part, they forced me to sit down
on a place that was more raised than theirs ; and when I shewed
them it was unpleasant to me, they said, “It is your place;
from this moment you are our lord, our master, and our judge ;
we are your slaves, and ready to obey your commands.”

Some of the ladies covered the tables with dried fruits, sweet-
meats, and other condiments likely to excite a desire for drink-
ing ; they also furnished the sideboard with various wines and
liquors, while the remainder of the ladies came with several
musical instruments. When everything was ready, they invited
me to sit down at table; the ladies sat down with me, and we
remained a considerable time. One of them then addressing
me, said, “ You are fatigued with the distance you have come
to-day, and it is time you should take some repose.” They then
conducted me to a magnificent apartment and left me to my
slumbers. In short,madam, not to tire you by repeating the
same thing over again, J may tell you at once that I passed a
whole year with these forty ladies.

I was never more surprised than at the end of the year, when
the forty ladies, instead of presenting themselves to me with
their accustomed good spirits, and making inquiries after my
health, one morning entered my apartment with their counte-
nances bathed in tears. They each came and embraced me, and
said, “ Adieu, dear prince, adieu ; we are now compelled to leave
you.”

Their tears affected me very mucn. { entreated them to in-
form me of the cause of their grief, and why they were obliged,
as they said, to leave me. “ My beautiful ladies,” I exclaimed,
“tell me, I beseech you, is it in my power to console you? or
will my aid and assistance prove us@less?” Instead of answer: