The Arabian Nights Entertainments - Volume 01 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 770 pages of information about The Arabian Nights Entertainments.

The Arabian Nights Entertainments - Volume 01 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 770 pages of information about The Arabian Nights Entertainments.

She commanded them to pack up their baggage and march forward; and when all things were ready, she ordered one of her women to go into her sedan; she herself on horseback, riding by her side.

They travelled several months by land and sea; the princess continuing the journey under the name of Camaralzaman.  They took the island of Ebene in their way to the isles of the Children of Khaledan.  They went to the capital of the island, where reigned a king whose name was Armanos.  The persons who first landed giving out that they brought prince Camaralzaman, who was returning from a long voyage towards his own country, and was forced to put in there by a storm, the news of his arrival was presently carried to court.

King Armanos, accompanied by most of his courtiers, went immediately to wait on the prince, and met the princess, just as she had landed, going to the lodgings that had been taken for her.  He received her as the son of a king who was his friend, and with whom he had always kept a fair correspondence; and carried her to his palace, where an apartment was prepared for her and all her attendants; though she would fain have excused herself, and lodged in a private house.  Besides this, he was so courteous, that doing her common honours would not content him; he entertained her three days together with extraordinary magnificence and royal festivals.

The days of feasting being over, and king Armanos understanding that the princess, whom he still took for prince Camaralzaman, talked of going aboard again to proceed on her voyage, he was so charmed with the air and qualities of such an accomplished prince, as he took her, that he watched his opportunity when she was alone, and spoke in the following manner:  You see, prince, that I am old, and cannot hope to live long.  It is my great trouble that I have not a son to whom I may leave my crown.  Heaven has only blessed me with one daughter, who cannot desire to be more happy than a prince of your virtues can make her, whose merit is equal with your birth.  Instead of going home, stay and take her from my hand:  with her I will give you my kingdom, and retreat myself to a quiet life, free from the business and cares of the world, having long enough had the weight of the crown upon me; and nothing could be a greater pleasure in my retirement, than to consider what a worthy successor sits on my throne, and rules my happy people.

The king of the isle of Ebene’s generous offer to bestow his only daughter in marriage on the princess Badoura, who could not accept of it because she was a woman, gave her unexpected trouble, and she could not presently think of an expedient to extricate herself out of it.  She thought it would not become a princess of her rank to deceive the king, and to own that she was not prince Camaralzaman, but his wife, when she had assured him she was he himself, whose part she had hitherto acted so well, that her sex was not in the least suspected.  She was also afraid to refuse him; seeing him so much bent upon the conclusion of the marriage, that there was reason to apprehend his kindness would turn to aversion and hatred, if the honour he offered her was rejected, and that he might attempt something even against her life.  Besides, she was not sure of finding prince Camaralzaman in the court of king Schahzaman, his father.

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The Arabian Nights Entertainments - Volume 01 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.