me, and that the remaining part seeks for an opportunity to go after her.  Tell me, I conjure you,” added he, “what cruel lady is this, who forces people to love her, without giving them time to reflect?” “My lord,” answered Ebn Thaher, “this is the celebrated Schemselnihar, the principal favourite of the caliph, our master.”  “She is justly so called,” added the prince, “since she is more beautiful than the sun at noonday.”  “True,” replied Ebn Thaher; “therefore the commander of the faithful loves, or rather adores her.  He gave me express orders to furnish her with all that she asked for, and to anticipate her wishes as far as lies in my power.”

He spoke thus to hinder him from engaging in a passion which could not but prove unfortunate to him; but this served only to inflame it the more.  “I feared, charming Schemselnihar,” cried he, “I should not be allowed so much as to think of you; I perceive, however, that without hopes of being loved in return, I cannot forbear loving you; I will love you then, and bless my lot that I am the slave of an object fairer than the meridian sun.”

While the prince of Persia thus consecrated his heart to the fair Schemselnihar, this lady, as she went home, contrived how she might see, and have free converse with him.  She no sooner entered her palace, than she sent to Ebn Thaher the woman she had pointed out to him, and in whom she placed all her confidence, to tell him to come and see her without delay, and bring the prince of Persia with him.  The slave came to Ebn Thaher’s shop, while he was speaking to the prince, and endeavouring to dissuade him, by very strong arguments, from loving the caliph’s favourite.  When she saw them together, “Gentlemen,” said she, “my honourable mistress Schemselnihar the chief favourite of the commander of the faithful, entreats you to come to her palace, where she waits for you.”  Ebn Thaher, to testify his obedience, rose up immediately, without answering the slave, and followed her, not without some reluctance.  The prince also followed he, without reflecting on the danger there might be in such a visit.  The presence of Ebn Thaher, who had liberty to go to the favourite when he pleased, made the prince very easy:  they followed the slave, who went a little before them, and entered after her into the caliph’s palace, and joined her at the gate of Schemselnihar’s pavilion, which was ready open.  She introduced them into a great hall, where she prayed them to be seated.

The prince of Persia thought himself in one of those delicious palaces that are promised to us in the other world:  he had never seen any thing that came near the magnificence of the place.  The carpets, cushions, and other appendages of the sofa, the furniture, ornaments, and architecture, were surprisingly rich and beautiful.  A little time after Ebn Thaher and he had seated themselves, a very handsome black slave brought in a table covered with several delicacies, the admirable smell of which evinced how deliciously