266 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

being able to make up his mind, “Madam,” said he to Mai-
mouné, “I confess to you that I should deceive you and betray
myself, if I were to tell you that I thought one of them more
handsome than the other. There seems to be only one mode of
discovering which is the most beautiful; and this mode is, to
wake them one after the other, and to agree that the person
who feels for the other the most violent love, and prove it by the
strongest and most ardent expressions, shall be considered in
some point or other to be less beautiful.”

The proposal of Caschcasch was approved of, both by Mai-
mouné and Danhasch. Maimouné then changed herself into a
flea, and jumped upon the neck of Camaralzaman. She gave
him so sharp a bite that he awoke. Maimouné, taking her
original form, invisible however, like the other two genii, to all
but themselves, stood by, in order to witness what was going
forward.

In drawing back his hand, the prince let it fall upon that of
the princess of China. He opened his eyes, and expressed great
surprise at seeing a lady who possessed such beauty. He lifted
his head up, and supported it on his elbow, in order the better
to observe her. The great youth of the princess, joined to
her incomparable beauty, caused him at once to fall in love
with her.

“What beauty!” exclaimed he; and saying this, he kissed
her forehead with so little precaution, that it must have broken
her slumbers, if she had not, through the enchantment of Dan-
hasch, slept more soundly than usual.

“There cannot be 2 doubt,” he exclaimed, “ but that this is
the person to whom the sultan my father wished to marry me.
He has been much to blame not to let me see her sooner; I
should not then have offended him by my disobedience. Per-
haps, indeed, he wished to surprise me, and has therefore sent
this lady, to ascertain whether I really have so great an aver-
sion to marriage as I have always shewn. Who knows if he
may not have brought her here himself, and may even now be
concealed, in order to see how I conduct myself, and make me
ashamed of my former dissimulation. This second fault would
be much worse than my first; I will therefore satisfy myself
with this ring in remembrance of her.”

The princess of China had a very beautiful ring on her finger,