honour you would confer upon me, and I most humbly beseech you to pardon me, if I do not accede to your request.  You know I had a brother, who had the honour, as well as myself, to be one of your viziers:  we had some difference together, which was the cause of his leaving me suddenly.  Since that time I have had no account of him till within these four days, that I heard he died at Bussorah, being grand vizier to the sultan of that kingdom.

“‘He has left a son, and there having been an agreement between us to match our children together, I am persuaded he intended that match when he died; and being desirous to fulfil the promise on my part, I conjure your majesty to grant me permission.’

“The sultan of Egypt, provoked at this denial of his vizier said to him in anger which he could not restrain:  ‘Is this the way in which you requite my condescension in stooping so low as to desire your alliance?  I know how to revenge your presumption in daring to prefer another to me, and I swear that your daughter shall be married to the most contemptible and ugly of my slaves.’  Having thus spoken, he angrily commanded the vizier to quit his presence.  The vizier retired to his palace full of confusion, and overwhelmed in despair.

“This very day the sultan sent for one of his grooms, who is hump-backed, big-bellied, crook legged, and as ugly as a hobgoblin; and after having commanded the vizier to marry his daughter to this ghastly slave, he caused the contract to be made and signed by witnesses in his own presence.  The preparations for this fantastical wedding are all ready, and this very moment all the slaves belonging to the lords of the court of Egypt are waiting at the door of a bath, each with a flambeau in his hand, for the crook-back groom, who is bathing, to go along with them to his bride, who is already dressed to receive him; and when I departed from Cairo, the ladies met for that purpose were going to conduct her in her nuptial attire to the hall, where she is to receive her hump-backed bridegroom, and is this minute expecting him.  I have seen her, and do assure you, that no person can behold her without admiration.”

When the perie left off speaking, the genie said to her, “Whatever you think or say, I cannot be persuaded that the girl’s beauty exceeds that of this young man.”  “I will not dispute it with you,” answered the perie; “for I must confess he deserves to be married to that charming creature, whom they design for hump-back; and I think it were a deed worthy of us to obstruct the sultan of Egypt’s injustice, and put this young gentleman in the room of the slave.”  “You are in the right,” answered the genie; “I am extremely obliged to you for so good a thought; let us deceive him.  I consent to your revenge upon the sultan of Egypt; let us comfort a distressed father, and make his daughter as happy as she thinks herself miserable.  I will do my utmost endeavours to make this project succeed, and I am persuaded you will not be backward.  I will be at the pains to carry him to Cairo before he awakes, and afterwards leave it to your care to carry him elsewhere, when we have accomplished our design.”