Part 47

What! cried she, is it you the king my father has designed me for a husband? I am indeed most unfortunate for not knowing it before, for then I should not have made him so angry with me, nor been so long deprived of a husband, whom I cannot forbear loving with all my heart. Wake then, wake! proceeded she, for it does not become a husband to sleep so soundly the first night of his nuptials.

So saying, she took prince Camaralzaman by the arm, and shook him so violently, that he would have awaked, had not Maimoune increased his sleep, and augmented his enchantment. She shook him several times, and finding that he did not awake, she cried, What is come to thee? what jealous rival, envying thy happiness and mine, has had recourse to magic to throw thee into this unsurmountable drowsiness when thou shouldst be most awake? Then she seized his hand, and kissing it eagerly, perceived he had a ring upon his finger which greatly resembled hers, and which she was convinced was her own, by seeing she had another on her finger instead of it. She could not comprehend how this exchange could be made; yet she did not doubt but it was a certain token of their marriage. Tired with her fruitless endeavours to awake the prince, and assured, as she thought, he could not escape her; Since, said she, I find it is not in my power to awake thee, I will no longer try to disturb thy repose, but wait our next meeting. After having given him a hearty kiss on the cheek, she lay down again and soon fell asleep.

When Maimoune saw that she could now speak without fear of awaking the princess, she cried to Danhasch, Ah, cursed genie, dost thou not now see what thy contest is come to? Art thou not now convinced how much thy princess is inferior to my prince in charms? But I pardon thee thy wager. Another time believe me when I assert any thing. Then turning to Caschcasch, As for you, said she, I thank you for your trouble: take the princess, in conjunction with Danhasch, and convey her back again to her bed, from whence he has taken her. Danhasch and Caschcasch did as they were commanded, and Maimoune returned to her well.

Prince Camaralzaman waking next morning, looked to see if the lady whom he had seen the night before were by him. When he found she was gone, he cried out, I thought indeed this was a trick the king, my father, designed to play me. I am glad I was aware of it. Then he waked the slave, who was still asleep, and bid him come and dress him, without saying any thing to him. The slave brought a basin and water, and after he had washed and said his prayers, he took a book and read some time.

After those usual exercises, he called the slave, and said to him, Come hither, and look you do not tell me a lie. How came the lady hither who lay with me to-night, and who brought her?

My lord, answered the slave, with great astonishment, I know not what lady your highness speaks of. I speak, said the prince, of her that came, or rather that was brought hither, and lay with me to-night. My lord, replied the slave, I swear I know of no such lady; and how should she come in without my knowledge, since I lay at the door?

You are a lying rascal, replied the prince, and in the plot to vex and provoke me the more. So saying, he gave him a box on the ear, which knocked him down; and after having stamped upon him for some time, at length tying the well-rope under his arms, he plunged him several times into the water. I will drown thee, cried he, if thou dost not tell me speedily who this lady was, and who brought her.

The slave, perplexed and half dead, said within himself, the prince must have lost his senses through grief, and I shall not escape if I do not tell him a lie. My lord, then cried he, in a suppliant tone, I beseech your highness to spare my life, and I will tell you the truth.

The prince drew the slave up, and pressed him to tell him. As soon as he was out of the well, my lord, said he trembling, your highness must perceive it is impossible for me to satisfy you in my present condition; I beg you to give me leave to go and change my clothes first. I permit you, but do it quickly, said the prince; and be sure you conceal nothing.

The slave went out, and having locked the door upon the prince, ran to the palace just as he was. The king was at that time in discourse with his prime vizier, to whom he had just related the grief in which he had passed the night on account of his son’s disobedience, and opposition to his will.

The minister endeavoured to comfort his master, by telling him, the prince himself had given him opportunity to reduce him. Sir, said he, your majesty need not repent of having treated your son after this sort. Have but patience to let him continue awhile in prison, and assure yourself his heat of youth will abate, and he will submit to all you require.

The grand vizier had just made an end of speaking, when the slave came in, and cast himself at king Schahzaman’s feet. My lord, said he, I am very sorry to be the messenger of ill news to your majesty, which I know must create you fresh affliction. The prince is distracted, my lord; what he talks of a lady having lain with him all night, and his treatment to me, as you may see, too plainly proves it. Then he proceeded to tell all the particulars of what prince Camaralzaman had said to him, and the violence with which he had been treated, in terms that made his story credible.

The king, who did not expect to hear any thing of this afflictive kind, said to the prime minister, This is a very melancholy turn, very different from the hopes you gave me just now: go immediately, without loss of time, see what is the matter, and come and give me an account.

The grand vizier obeyed instantly; and coming into the prince’s chamber, he found him sitting on his bed in good temper, and with a book in his hand, which he was reading.

After mutual salutations, the vizier sat down by him, and said, My lord, I wish that a slave of yours was punished for coming to frighten the king, your father, by news that he has brought him.

What news is that, replied the prince, that could give my father so great alarm? I have much greater cause to complain of that slave.

Prince, answered the vizier, God forbid that the news which he has told your father concerning you should be true; indeed, I myself find it to be false, by the good temper I observe you in, and which I pray God to continue. It may be, replied the prince, he did not make himself well understood; but since you are come, who ought to know something of the matter, give me leave to ask you, who was that lady that lay with me last night?

The grand vizier was thunderstruck at this question: however, he recovered himself, and said, My lord, be not surprised at my astonishment at your question. Is it possible, that a lady, or any other person in the world, should penetrate by night into this place, without entering at the door, and walking over the body of your slave? I beseech you recollect yourself, and you will find it is only a dream which has made this impression on you.

I give no ear to what you say, said the prince, raising his voice; I must know of you absolutely what is become of the lady; and if you scruple to obey me, I am in a place where I shall soon be able to force you to obey me.

At these stern words, the grand vizier began to be under greater confusion than before, and was thinking how to extricate himself. He endeavoured to pacify the prince by good words, and begged of him, in the most humble and guarded manner, to tell him if he had seen this lady.

Yes, yes, answered the prince, I have seen her, and am very well satisfied you sent her to tempt me. She played the part you had given her admirably well, for I could not get a word out of her. She pretended to be asleep, but I was no sooner got into a slumber; than she arose and left me. You know all this: for I doubt not she has been to make her report to you.

My lord, replied the vizier, I swear to you nothing of this has been acted, which you seem to reproach me with; neither your father nor I have sent this lady you speak of; permit me, therefore, to remind your highness once more, you have only seen this lady in a dream.

Do you come to affront and contradict me, said the prince in a great rage, and to tell me to my face, that what I have told you is a dream? At the same time, he took him by the beard, and loaded him with blows, as long as he could stand.

The poor grand vizier endured with respectful patience all the violence of his lord’s indignation, and could not help saying within himself, Now am I in as bad a condition as the slave, and shall think myself happy if I can, like him, escape from farther danger. In the midst of repeated blows, he cried out for a moment’s audience, which the prince, after he had nearly tired himself with beating him, consented to give him.

I own, my prince, said the grand vizier, dissembling, there is something in what your highness suspects: but you cannot be ignorant of the necessity a minister is under to obey his royal master’s orders; yet if you will but be pleased to set me at liberty, I will go and tell him any thing on your part that you shall think fit to command me. Go, then, said the prince, and tell him from me, if he pleases, I will marry the lady he sent me, or rather that was brought to me last night Do this quickly, and bring me a speedy answer. The grand vizier made a profound reverence, and went away, not thinking himself altogether safe till he had got out of the tower, and shut the door upon the prince.

He came and presented himself before king Schahzaman, with a countenance that sufficiently showed he had been ill used, and which the king could not behold without concern. Well, said the king, in what condition did you find my son? Sir, answered the vizier, what the slave reported to your majesty is but too true. He then began to relate his interview with Camaralzaman, how he flew into a passion upon his endeavouring to persuade him it was impossible the lady he spoke of should have got in to him; the ill-treatment he had received from him; how he had used him, and by what means he made his escape.

Schahzaman, so much the more concerned as he loved the prince with excessive tenderness, resolved to find out the truth of this matter, and therefore proposed himself, to go and see his son in the tower, accompanied with the grand vizier.

Prince Camaralzaman received the king, his father, in the tower where he was confined, with great respect. The king sat down, and after he had made his son the prince sit down by him, put several questions to him, which he answered with great good sense. The king every now and then looked on the grand vizier, as intimating he did not find his son had lost his wits, but rather thought he had lost his.

The king at length spoke of the lady to the prince. My son, said he, I desire you to tell me what lady it was that lay with you the other night, as I have been told.

Sir, answered Camaralzaman, I beg your majesty not to give me more vexation on that head, but rather to oblige me by letting me have her in marriage: whatever aversion I may hitherto have discovered for women, this young lady has charmed me to that degree, that I cannot help confessing my weakness. I am ready to receive her at your majesty’s hands, with the deepest gratitude.

King Schahzaman was surprised at this answer of the prince, so remote, as he thought, from the good sense he had shown before. My son, said he to him, you fill me with the greatest astonishment imaginable by what you now say to me; I swear to you by my crown, that is to devolve upon you after me, I know not one word of the lady you mention; and if any such has come to you, it was altogether without my knowledge or privity. But how could she get into this tower without my consent? For whatever my grand vizier told you, it was only to appease you: it must therefore be a mere dream; and I beg of you not to believe otherwise, but recover your senses.

Sir, replied the prince, I should be for ever unworthy of your majesty’s favour, if I did not give entire credit to what you are pleased to say; but I humbly beseech you at the same time to give a patient hearing to what I shall say to you, and then to judge whether what I have the honour to tell you be a dream or not.

Then prince Camaralzaman related to the king his father after what manner he had been awaked, exaggerating the beauty and charms of the lady he found by his side, the instantaneous love he conceived for her, and the pains he took to awaken her without effect. He did not conceal what had obliged him to awake and fall asleep again, after he had made the exchange of his ring with that of the lady: showing the king the ring, he added, Sir, your majesty must needs know my ring very well, you have seen it so often. After this I hope you will be convinced that I have not lost my senses, as you have been almost made to believe.

King Schahzaman was so perfectly convinced of the truth of what his son had been telling him, that he had not a word to say, remaining astonished for some time, and not being able to utter a syllable.

The prince took advantage of this opportunity, and said farther, Sir, the passion I have conceived for this charming lady, whose precious image I bear continually in my mind, is so very great, that I cannot resist it. I entreat you therefore to have compassion on me, and procure me the happiness of enjoying her.

Son, replied the king, after what I have just heard, and what I see by the ring on your finger, I cannot doubt but that your passion is real, and that you have seen this lady, who is the object of it. Would to God I knew who she was, and I would make you happy from this moment, and I should be the happiest father in the world! But what means have I to come at the knowledge of her? Where shall I find her, and how seek for her? How could she get in here, and by what conveyance, without my consent? Why did she come to sleep with you only to show you her beauty, to kindle a flame of love while she slept, and then leave you while you were in a slumber? These things, I must confess, are past my finding out; and if Heaven is not so favourable to us as to give some light into them, we, I fear, must both go down to the grave together. So saying, and taking the prince by the hand, Come then, my son, let us go and afflict ourselves in conjunction; you with hopeless love, and I with seeing you grieve, and not being able to remedy your affliction.

King Schahzaman then led his son out of the tower, and conveyed him to the palace, where he was no sooner arrived, than in despair for loving an unknown object he fell sick, and took to his bed; the king shut himself up with him, and spent many a day in weeping, without attending to the affairs of his kingdom.

The prime minister, who was the only person that had admittance to him, came one day and told him, the whole court, and even the people, began to murmur at not seeing him, and that he did not administer justice every day as he was wont to do; adding, he knew not what disorder it might occasion. I humbly beg your majesty, therefore, proceeded he, to pay some attention, I am sensible your majesty’s company is a great comfort to the prince, and that his company is a mutual relief to your grief; but then you must not run the risk of letting all be lost. Permit me to propose to your majesty, to remove with the prince to the castle on a little island near the port, where you may give audience to your subjects twice a week only; during these absences the prince will be so agreeably amused with the beauty, prospect, and good air of the place, that he will bear them with the less uneasiness.

King Schahzaman approved this proposal; and after the castle, where he had not resided for some time, had been furnished, he removed thither with the prince; and, excepting the time that he gave audience, as aforesaid, he never left him, but passed all his time on his son’s pillow, endeavouring to comfort him in sharing his grief.

While matters passed thus in the capital of king Schahzaman, the two genies, Danhasch and Caschcasch, had carried the princess of China back to the palace where the king had shut her up, and laid her in her bed as before.

When she awaked next morning, and found by looking to the right and to the left, that prince Camaralzaman was not by her, she cried out with such a voice to her women as soon brought them to her bed. Her nurse, who presented herself first, desired to be informed what she would please to have, and if any thing disagreeable had happened to her.

Tell me, said the princess, what is become of the young man that has passed the night with me, and whom I love with all my soul? Madam, replied the nurse, we cannot understand your highness, unless you will be pleased to explain yourself.

A young man, the best made and most amiable, said the princess, slept with me last night, whom, with all my caresses, I could not awake; I ask you where he is?

Madam, answered the nurse, your highness asks us these questions to jest with us. I beseech you to rise. I am in earnest, said the princess, and I must know where this young man is. Madam, insisted the nurse, you were alone when you went to bed last night; and how any man could come to you without our knowledge, we cannot imagine, for we all lay about the door of your chamber, which was locked, and I had the key in my pocket.

At this the princess lost all patience, and catching her nurse by the hair of her head, and giving her two or three sound cuffs, she cried, You shall tell me where this young man is, old sorceress, or I will beat your brains out.

The nurse struggled to get from her, and at last succeeded; when she went immediately, with tears in her eyes, and her face all bloody, to complain to the queen her mother, who was not a little surprised to see her in this condition, and asked who had done this.

Madam, began the nurse, you see how the princess has treated me; she had certainly murdered me, if I had not had the good fortune to escape out of her hands. She then began to tell what had been the cause of all that violent passion in the princess. The queen was surprised to hear it, and could not guess how she came to be so infatuated, as to take that for a reality which could be no other than a dream. Your majesty must conclude from all this, madam, continued the nurse, that the princess is out of her senses. You will think so yourself, if you will go and see her.

The queen’s affection for the princess was too deeply interested in what she heard; she ordered the nurse to follow her; and they went together to the princess’s palace that very moment.

The queen of China sat down by her daughter’s bed-side, immediately upon her arrival in her apartment; and after she had informed herself about her health, began to ask her what had made her so angry with her nurse, as to treat her in the manner she had done. Daughter, said she, this is not right; and a great princess like you should not suffer herself to be so transported with passion.

Madam, replied the princess, I plainly perceive your majesty is come to mock me; but I declare I will never let you rest till you consent I shall marry the young man that lay with me last night. You must know where he is, and therefore I beg of your majesty to let him come in to me again.

Daughter, answered the queen, you surprise me; I know nothing of what you talk of. Then the princess lost all respect for the queen. Madam, replied she, the king my father and you have persecuted me about marrying, when I had no inclination; I now have an inclination, and I will have this young man I told you of, for my husband, or I will kill myself.

Here the queen endeavoured to calm the princess by soft words. Daughter, said she, you know well you are alone in this apartment; how then could any man come to you? But instead of hearing her, the princess interrupted her, and flew out into such extravagancies as obliged the queen to leave her, and retire in great affliction, to inform the king of all that had passed.

The king hearing it, had a mind likewise to be satisfied in person; and coming to his daughter’s apartment, asked her if what he had just heard was true. Sir, replied the princess, let us talk no more of that; I only beseech your majesty to grant me the favour that I may marry the young man I lay with last night.

What! daughter, said the king, has any one lain with you last night? How, sir, replied the princess, without giving him time to go on, do you ask me if any one lay with me last night? your majesty knows that but too well. He was the finest and best made youth the sun ever saw. I desire him of you for my husband: I entreat you do not refuse me. But that your majesty may not longer doubt whether I have seen this young man, whether he has lain with me, whether I have caressed him, or whether I did not do my utmost to awake him, without succeeding, see, if you please, this ring. She then reached forth her hand, and showed the king a man’s ring on her finger. The king did not know what to make of all this; but as he had confined her as mad, he began to think her more mad than ever: therefore, without saying any thing more to her, for fear she might do violence to herself or somebody about her, he had her chained, and shut up more close than ever, allowing her only the nurse to wait on her, with a good guard at the door.

The king, exceedingly concerned at this indisposition of his daughter, sought all possible means to get her cured. He assembled his council, and after having acquainted them with the condition she was in, If any of you, said he, is capable of undertaking her cure, and succeeds, I will give her to him in marriage, and make him heir to my dominions and crown after my decease.

The desire of enjoying a handsome young princess, and the hopes of one day governing so powerful a kingdom as that of China, had a strange effect on an emir, already advanced in age, who was present at this council. As he was well skilled in magic, he offered the king to cure his daughter, and flattered himself with success. I consent, said the king; but I forgot to tell you one thing, and that is, that if you do not succeed, you shall lose your head. It would not be reasonable you should have so great a reward, and yet run no risk on your part: and what I say to you, continued the king, I say to all others that shall come after you, that they may consider beforehand what they undertake.

The emir, however, accepted the condition, and the king conducted him where the princess was. She covered her face as soon as she saw them come in, and cried out, Your majesty surprises me, in bringing with you a man I do not know, and by whom my religion forbids me to be seen. Daughter, replied the king, you need not be scandalized, it is only one of my emirs who is come to demand you of me in marriage. It is not, I perceive, the person that you have already given me, and whose faith is plighted by the ring I wear, replied the princess: be not offended that I will never marry any other.