At this discourse I changed colour, and fell a-trembling.  While the tailor was asking me the reason, my chamber-door opened at once, and the old man, having no patience to stay, appeared to us with my hatchet and cords.  This was the genie, the ravisher of the fair princess of the isle of Ebone, who had thus disguised himself, after he had treated her with the utmost barbarity.  I am a genie, said he, son of the daughter of Ebis, prince of genies.  Is not this your hatchet? said he, speaking to me, and are not these your cords?

After the genie had put the question to me, he gave me no time to answer, nor was it in my power, so much had his terrible aspect put me beside myself.  He grasped me by the middle, dragged me out of the chamber, and, mounting into the air, carried me up as high as the skies, with such swiftness, that I perceived I was got so high as not to be able to take notice of the way, being carried in so few moments.  He descended again in like manner to the earth, which, on a sudden, he caused to open with a knock of his foot, and so sunk down at once, where I found myself in the enchanted palace before the fair princess of the isle of Ebone.  But, alas! what a spectacle was there; I saw that which pierced me to the heart; this poor princess was quite naked, all in blood, and laid upon the ground, more like one dead than alive, with her cheeks all bathed in tears.

Perfidious wretch, said the genie to her, pointing at me, is not this your gallant?  She cast her languishing eyes upon me, and answered mournfully, I do not know him; I never saw him till this moment.  What, said the genie, he is the cause of thy being in the condition thou art justly in; and yet darest thou say thou dost not know him?  If I do not know him, said the princess, would you have me to make a lie on purpose to ruin him?  O then, said the genie, pulling out a scimitar, and presenting it to the princess, if you never saw him before, take the scimitar and cut off his head.  Alas! replied the princess, how is it possible I should execute what you would force me to do?  My strength is so far spent that I cannot lift my arm; and if I could, how should I have the heart to take away an innocent man’s life, and one I do not know?  This refusal, said the genie to the princess, sufficiently informs me of your crime.  Upon which, turning to me, And thou, said he, dost thou hot know her?

I should have been the most ungrateful wretch, and the most perfidious of all mankind, if I had not shown myself as faithful to the princess as she was to me, who had been the cause of her misfortunes.  Therefore I answered the genie, How should I know her, that never saw her till now?  If that be so, said he, take the scimitar and cut off her head.  On this condition I will set thee at liberty, for then I will be convinced that thou never saw her till this very moment, as thou sayest thyself.  With all my heart, replied I, and took the scimitar in my hand.