6.  The name of the eldest was Ibrahim, and of the youngest Abdallah.  They lived together in such a perfect friendship, that to this day it is said of intimate friends, that they live together like Ibrahim and Abdallah.  Helim had an only child, who was a girl of a fine soul, and a most beautiful person.  Her father omitted nothing in her education, that might make her the most accomplished woman of her age.

7.  As the young princes were in a manner excluded from the rest of the world, they frequently conversed with this lovely virgin, who had been brought up by her father in the same course of knowledge and of virtue.

8.  Abdallah, whose mind was of a softer turn than tint of his brother, grew by degrees so enamoured of her conversation, that he did not think he lived, when he was not in company with his beloved Balsora, for that was the name of the maid.  The fame of her beauty was so great, that at length it came to the ears of the king, who, pretending to visit the young princes his sons, demanded of Helim the sight of Balsora his fair daughter.

9.  The king was so enflamed with her beauty and behaviour, that he sent for Helim the next morning, and told him it was now his design to recompence him for all his faithful services; and that in order to it, he intended to make his daughter queen of Persia.

10.  Helim, who knew very well the fate of all those unhappy women who had been thus advanced, and could not but be privy to the secret love which Abdallah bore his daughter; ‘Far be it,’ says he, ’from the king of Persia to contaminate the blood of the Caliphs, and join himself in marriage with the daughter of his physcian.’

11.  The king, however, was so impatient for such a bride, that without hearing any excuses, he immediately ordered Balsora to be sent for into his presence, keeping the father with him in order to make her sensible of the honour which he designed.  Balsora, who was too modest and humble to think her beauty had made such an impression on the king, was a few moments after brought into his presence as he had commanded.

12.  She appeared in the king’s eye as one of the virgins of paradise.  But upon hearing the honour which he intended her, she fainted away, and fell down as dead at his feet.  Helim wept, and after having recovered her out of the trance into which she was fallen, represented to the king that so unexpected an honour was too great to have been communicated to her all at once; but that, if he pleased, he would himself prepare her for it.  The king bid him take his own away and dismissed him.

13.  Balsora was conveyed again to her father’s house, where the thoughts of Abdallah renewed her affliction every moment; insomuch that at length she fell into a raging fever.  The king was informed of her condition by those who saw her.  Helim finding no other means of extricating her from the difficulties she was in, after having composed her mind, and made her acquainted with his intentions, gave her a certain potion, which he knew would lay her asleep for many hours; and afterwards in all the seeming distress of a disconsolate father informed the king she was dead.