272 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

duce into your chamber, disguised by this dress. I hope you
will not refuse him the honour of paying his respects to you.”

At the name of Marzavan, the princess expressed great joy.
“ Come forward, brother,” cried she to Marzavan, “and take off
that veil; it is not forbidden to a brother and sister to see each
other uncovered.” Marzavan saluted her with great respect:
but without allowing him time to say anything, “I am de-
lighted,” continued the princess, “to see you again in such
health after an absence of so many years, during which time no
one ever received any intelligence from you, nay, not even your
good mother.”

The princess then related to Marzavan allher history, without
omitting the most trifling circumstance, nor even that of the
ring, which had been exchanged for hers, and which she shewed
him. “J have disguised nothing from you,” continued she: “in
what I have told you, I acknowledge that there is something
mysterious, which I cannot comprehend, and leads them all to
suppose that I am not in my right senses; but they pay no
attention to the other circumstances, which are exactly as I have
related.”

When the princess had ceased speaking, Marzavan was filled
with wonder and astonishment. At length he said, “ If, princess,
what you have now told me be true, as indeed J am persuaded
it is, I do not despair of procuring you the gratification you so
anxiously desire. I only entreat you to arm yourself with pa-
tience for some time longer, until I shall have visited those
countries which I have not yet been in; when you hear of my
return, be assured that he whom you love will not be very dis-
tant from you.” Having said this, Marzavan took his leave of
the princess, and set out on the following day.

He travelled from city to city, from province to province, and
from island to island. Wherever he went, he heard of nothing
but the princess Badoura, (thus was the princess of China
called,) and of her extraordinary history. At the expiration of four
months our traveller arrived at Torf, a large and populous mari-
time town, where he no longer heard of the Princess Badoura,
but every one was talking of Prince Camaralzaman, who was
said to be ill, and whose history was nearly similar to that of the
princess of China. Marzavan experienced a transport of joy
that cannot be described ; he inquired in what part of the world