ZEYN ALASNAM AND THE KING OF THE GENII. 323

Zeyn felt considerable alarm, and began to draw very un-
favourable presages from the noise and confusion around him.
At that moment the king of the genii made his appearance
under the form of a handsome man, retaining, however, in his
air something a little terrific.

Prince Zeyn, as soon as he perceived him, delivered the com-
pliment which Mobarec had dictated. The king of the genii
received him with a smile, and replied, “ O my son, I loved your
father, and as often as he came to pay me his respects, I pre-
sented him with a statue to take back with him. My affection
for you is not less. Some days before your father’s death, I
obliged him to write upon the piece of white satin the inscrip-
tion you there read; I promised him to take you under my
protection, and to give you the ninth statue, which surpasses in
beauty all those in your possession. I have already begun to
keep my word. It was I whom you saw in a dream, under the
form of an old man. It was I who discovered to you the secret
apartments where the urns and statues are. I know the purpose
for which you are here; you shall obtain your wish. If I had
not even promised your father, I would most willingly grant it
on your own account; but it is first necessary that you shouid
swear by everything which makes an oath sacred, that you will
return to this island, and bring back with you a girl not exceed-
ing twenty years of age, who shall possess the most perfect
beauty, joined with all the accomplishments which should adorn
her sex. In addition to all this, she must be of the most ami-
able temper, and have never given way to an angry feeling or
wicked thought. I want such a person as attendant on my
queen. You are to conduct her here and to feel no wish to
macty her, notwithstanding her attractions. Promise on your
oath to fulfil these conditions.”

Zeyn took the rash oath which the king of the genii required.
“But, sir,” said he afterwards, “ suppose I should be fortunate
enough to meet with the extraordinary person you have de-
scribed, how shall I be able to know when I have found her ?”
“T confess,” replied the king of the genii, “that the countenance
may deceive ; this knowledge is not to be attained by the sons
of Adam. I will give you a mirror, which will be much safer to
trust to than your conjectures. As soon as you see a perfectly
beautiful girl at the age requixed, you will have only to look in