 |
Health "The
king, her father, has carefully shielded this treasure from the vulgar
gaze, and has taken every precaution to keep her from the sight of
everyone except the happy mortal he may choose to be her husband. But in
order to give her variety in her confinement he has built her seven
palaces such as have never been seen before. The first palace is
entirely composed of rock crystal, the second of bronze, the third of
fine steel, the fourth of another and more precious species of bronze,
the fifth of touchstone, the sixth of silver, and the seventh of solid
gold. They are all most sumptuously furnished, whilst the gardens
surrounding them are laid out with exquisite taste. In fact, neither
trouble nor cost has been spared to make this retreat agreeable to the
princess. The report of her wonderful beauty has spread far and wide,
and many powerful kings have sent embassies to ask her hand in marriage.
The king has always received these embassies graciously, but says that
he will never oblige the princess to marry against her will, and as she
regularly declines each fresh proposal, the envoys have had to leave as
disappointed in the result of their missions as they were gratified by
their magnificent receptions.
Heading One
"Sire," said the princess to her father, "you wish me to marry, and I
know you desire to please me, for which I am very grateful. But, indeed,
I have no inclination to change my state, for where could I find so
happy a life amidst so many beautiful and delightful surroundings? I
feel that I could never be as happy with any husband as I am here, and I
beg you not to press one on me."
Heading Two
"At last an embassy came from a king so rich and powerful that the
King of China felt constrained to urge this suit on his daughter. He
told her how important such an alliance would be, and pressed her to
consent. In fact, he pressed her so persistingly that the princess at
length lost her temper and quite forgot the respect due to her father.
`Sire,' cried she angrily, `do not speak further of this or any other
marriage or I will plunge this dagger in my breast and so escape from
all these importunities.'"
|
Column Heading
|
Column Heading
|
Column Heading
|
Column Heading
|
|
"The king of China was extremely indignant with his daughter and
replied:
|
`You have lost your senses and you must be treated accordingly.' "
|
So
he had her shut in one set of rooms in one of her palaces, and only
allowed her ten old women,
|
of
whom her nurse was the head, to wait on her and keep her company.
|
|
He
next sent letters to all the kings who had sued for the princess's
hand,
|
begging they would think of her no longer,
|
as
she was quite insane,
|
and he desired his various envoys to make it known that anyone who
could cure her should have her to wife.
|
"Fair Maimoune," continued Danhasch, "this is the present state of
affairs. I never pass a day without going to gaze on this incomparable
beauty, and I am sure that if you would only accompany me you would
think the sight well worth the trouble, and own that you never saw such
loveliness before."
Heading Three
The fairy only answered with a peal of laughter, and when at length
she had control of her voice she cried, "Oh, come, you are making game
of me! I thought you had something really interesting to tell me instead
of raving about some unknown damsel. What would you say if you could see
the prince I have just been looking at and whose beauty is really
transcendent? That is something worth talking about, you would certainly
quite lose your head."
Continued
|
|
