“Lovely and adorable Persian!” cried Noor ad Deen, “is it possible you can entertain such a thought?  Have I given you such slender proofs of my love, that you should think me capable of so base an action?  But suppose me so vile a wretch, could I do it without being guilty of perjury, after the oath I have taken to my late father never to sell you?  I would sooner die than break it, and part with you, whom I love infinitely beyond myself; though, by the unreasonable proposal you have made me, you shew me that your love is by no means reciprocal.”

“Sir,” replied the fair Persian, “I am convinced that your passion for me is as sincere as you express; and heaven, who knows with what reluctance I have made this proposal which induces you to think so hardly of me, is my witness, that mine is as great as yours; but to silence your reasons, I need only bid you remember, that necessity has no law.  I love you to that degree that it is impossible for you to love me more; and be assured, that to what master soever I shall belong, my love for you will continue undiminished; and if you are ever able to redeem me, as I hope you may, it will be the greatest pleasure in the world to be restored to you again.  I confess it is a fatal and cruel necessity to which we are driven; but I see no other way of freeing ourselves from the misery that involves us both.”

Noor ad Deen, convinced of the truth of what the fair Persian had said, and that there was no other way of avoiding a shameful poverty, was forced to yield to her proposal.  Accordingly he led her to the market where the women-slaves are exposed to sale, with a regret that cannot easily be expressed.  He applied himself to a broker, named Hagi Hassan.  “Hagi Hassan,” said he, “here is a slave whom I mean to sell; what will they give for her?”

Hagi Hassan desired Noor ad Deen and the fair Persian to walk into a room; and when she had pulled off the veil that covered her face, “Sir,” said Hagi Hassan, in surprise, “if I am not mistaken, this is the slave your father, the late vizier, gave ten thousand pieces of gold for?” Noor ad Deen assured him she was the same and Hagi Hassan gave him some hopes of selling her at a high price, and promised to use all his art to raise her value as high as he could.

Hagi Hassan and Noor ad Deen went out of the room; and Hagi Hassan locked the fair Persian in.  He went immediately to the merchants; but they being busy in buying slaves from different countries, Greeks, Franks, Africans, Tartars, and others, he was forced to wait till the market was over.  When the sale was ended, and the greatest part of them were got together again, “My masters,” said he to them, with an air of gaiety in his looks and actions, “every thing that is round is not a nut, every thing that is long is not a fig, all that is red is not flesh, and all eggs are not fresh; it is true you have seen and bought a great many slaves in your lives, but you never yet saw one comparable to her I am going to tell you of.  She is the very pearl of slaves.  Come, follow me, you shall see her yourselves, and judge at what rate I shall cry her.”