“After several other embassies on the same occasion, there arrived one from a king more opulent and powerful than any of the preceding.  This prince the king of China recommended to his daughter for her husband, urging many forcible arguments to shew how much it would be to her advantage to accept him, but she entreated her father to excuse her compliance for the reasons she had before urged.  He pressed her; but instead of consenting, she lost all the respect due to the king her father:  ‘ Sir,’ said she, in anger, ‘talk to me no more of this or any other match, unless you would have me plunge this dagger in my bosom, to deliver myself from your importunities’

“The king, greatly enraged, said, ‘Daughter, you are mad, and I must treat you accordingly.’  In a word, he had her shut up in a single apartment of one of his palaces, and allowed her only ten old women to wait upon her, and keep her company, the chief of whom had been her nurse That the kings his neighbours, who had sent embassies to him on her account, might not think any more of her, he despatched envoys to them severally, to let them know how averse his daughter was to marriage; and as he did not doubt but she was really mad, he charged them to make known in every court, that if there were any physician that would undertake to cure her, he should, if he succeeded, have her for his pains.

“Fair Maimoune,” continued Danhasch, “all that I have told you is true; and I have gone every day regularly to contemplate this incomparable beauty, to whom I would be sorry to do the least harm, notwithstanding my natural inclination to mischief.  Come and see her, I conjure you; it would be well worth your while.  When you have seen from your own observation that I am no liar, I am persuaded you will think yourself obliged to me for the sight of a princess unequalled in beauty.”

Instead of answering Danhasch, Maimoune burst out into violent laughter, which lasted for some time; and Danhasch, not knowing what might be the occasion of it, was astonished beyond measure.  When she had done laughing, she exclaimed, “Good, good, very good!  You would have me then believe all you have told me?  I thought you designed to tell me something surprising and extraordinary, and you have been talking all this while of a mad woman.  Fie, fie! what would you say, cursed genie, if you had seen the beautiful prince from whom I am just come, and whom I love as he deserves.  I am confident you would soon give up the contest, and not pretend to compare your choice with mine.”

“Agreeable Maimoune,” replied Danhasch, “may I presume to ask who this prince you speak of is?” “Know,” answered Maimoune, “the same thing has happened to him as to your princess.  The king his father would have married him against his will; but after much importunity, he frankly told him he would have nothing to do with a wife.  For this reason he is at this moment imprisoned in an old tower where I reside.”