AHMED AND PARI-BANOU. 457

valuable marble, besides furniture of various descriptions and of
inestimable value. All these rich materials were employed in
so profuse a manner, that so far from having ever seen anything
that resembled it, the prince candidly acknowledged to the fairy
that nothing in the whole world could equal it.

The marriage was celebrated with great pomp, and the festive
rejoicings continued for several days, and Pari-Banou found no
difficulty in diversifying the entertainments, by concerts, and
dances, and a variety of spectacles, all so uncommon, that
Prince Ahmed would never have been able even to have thought
of them while living with mortals, had his life lasted a thousand
years.

It was the intention of the fairy not only to give the prince
the strongest proofs of the sincerity and excess of her love, but
she wished him also to suppose that there was nothing at the
court of the sultan his f:-ther, nor anywhere else, that could be
put into competition with what was to be found with her, not to
mention her own beauty, so also that he would find nothing
comparable to the happiness he would enjoy with her, in order
that he might attach himsel/ entirely to her, and never form a
wish to leave her. She completely succeeded in her intentions;
the affection of Prince Ahmed did not diminish ; it increased
indeed to that degree, that it was no longer in his own power to
control his love, even if he had resolved to conquer it.

At the end of six months the prince, who had always felt a
great regard and respect for the sultan his father, conceived a
strong desire to learn some intelligence of him ; and as he could
not satisfy his anxiety but by going in person to obtain the in-
formation he wished, he spoke to Pari-Banou on the subject,
and requested her leave to put it in execution. This speech
much alarmed the fairy, who feared it might only be a pretence
for abandoning her. “In what,” she said to him, “have I given
you cause for discontent, that you request this permission? Is
it possible that you have forgotten that you have pledged your
faith to me, and that you now no longer love me, who am still
so much attached to you? You ought to be convinced of my
love by the proofs I never cease from giving you.”

“T am,” replied Prince Ahmed, “completely convinced of
your affection, of which I should be most unworthy, did I not”
shew my gratitude by a love equally ardent. If you are offended