and of admirable symmetry.  Her eyes are black, sparkling, and full of fire.  Her nose is neither too long nor too short, her mouth is small, and her lips are like vermilion.  Her teeth are like two rows of pearls, and surpass every thing in whiteness.  When she moves her tongue, she forms a sweet and most agreeable voice, and expresses herself in such proper terms as sufficiently indicate the vavacity of her wit.  The whitest marble or alabaster is not fairer than her neck.  In a word, by this perfect sketch, you may guess there is no beauty like her in the world.

Any one that did not know the king, father of this incomparable princess, would be apt to imagine, from the great respect and kindness he shows her, that he was in love with his daughter.  Never did a lover do more for a mistress the most endearing, than he has been seen to do for her.  In a word, jealousy never was more watchful over one than he is over her; and that her retreat, on which he has resolved, may not seem irksome, he has built seven palaces for her, the most magnificent and uncommon that ever were known.

The first palace is of rock crystal, the second of brass, the third of fine steel, the fourth of another sort of brass more valuable than the foregoing, the fifth of touchstone, the sixth of silver, and the seventh of massy gold.  He has furnished these palaces most sumptuously, and after a most unheard-of manner, with materials not unlike those they are built of.  He has filled the gardens with parterres of glass and flowers, intermixed with all manner of water-works, such as jets-d’eau, canals, cascades, and the like; the eye is lost in prospect of large groves and trees where the sun never enters.  King Gaiour, in short, has made it appear that his paternal love exceeds that of any other kind whatever.

Now, on the fame of the beauty of this incomparable princess, the most powerful neighbouring kings sent embassadors to request her in marriage.  The king of China received them all in the most obliging manner; but as he resolved not to marry his daughter without her consent, so as she did not like any of them, they returned after receiving great honours and civilities.

Sir, said the princess to the king her father, you have a mind to marry me, and think to oblige me by it; but where shall I find such stately palaces and delicious gardens as I have with your majesty?  Under your good pleasure I am unconstrained in all things, and receive the same honours that are paid to your own person.  These are advantages I cannot expect to find any where else; men ever love to be masters; and I do not care to be commanded by a husband.

After divers embassies on the same occasion, there came one from a more rich and potent king than any that had been hitherto sent.  The king of China recommended this prince to his daughter, as a husband both advantageous and proper for her:  yet she refused him for the same reasons as before, and begged her father to dispense with her on that account.  He pressed her to hearken to him; but, instead of complying, she lost all respect and duty that was due to him.  Sir, said she, in a great rage, trouble me no more with any talk of marriage, unless you would have me bury this poniard in my bosom, to rid myself from your importunities!