“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

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.”

“Charming Maimoune,” asked Danhasch, “may I inquire who and what is the prince of whom you speak?”

“Know,” replied Maimoune, “that he is in much the same case as your princess.  The king, his father, wanted to force him to marry, and on the prince’s refusal to obey he has been imprisoned in an old tower where I have just seen him.”

“I don’t like to contradict a lady,” said Danhasch, “but you must really permit me to doubt any mortal being as beautiful as my princess.”

“Hold your tongue,” cried Maimoune.  “I repeat that is impossible.”

“Well, I don’t wish to seem obstinate,” replied Danhasch, “the best plan to test the truth of what I say will be for you to let me take you to see the princess for yourself.”