Prince Camaralzaman And The Princess Of China [Fairy Tales From The Arabian Nights]
About twenty days' sail from the coast of Persia, in the Islands of the Children of Khaledan, there lived a king who had an only son, Prince Camaralzaman. He was brought up with all imaginable care; and when he came to a proper age, his father appointed him an experienced governor and able tutors. As he grew up he learned all the knowledge which a prince ought to possess, and acquitted himself so well that he charmed all that saw him, and particularly the sultan his father.
When
the prince had attained the age of fifteen years, the sultan, who loved him
tenderly, and gave him every day new marks of his affection, had thoughts of
giving him a still greater one, by resigning to him his throne, and he
acquainted his grand vizier with his intentions. 'I fear,' said he, 'lest my
son should lose in the inactivity of youth those advantages which nature and
education have given him; therefore, since I am advanced in age, and ought to
think of retirement, I have thoughts of resigning the government to him, and
passing the remainder of my days in the satisfaction of seeing him reign. I
have undergone the fatigue of a crown a long while, and think it is now proper
for me to retire.'
The
grand vizier did not wholly dissuade the sultan from such a proceeding, but
sought to modify his intentions. 'Sir,' replied he, 'the prince is yet but
young, and it would not be, in my humble opinion, advisable to burden him with
the weight of a crown so soon. Your majesty fears, with great reason, his youth
may be corrupted in indolence, but to remedy that do not you think it would be
proper to marry him? Your majesty might then admit him to your council, where
he would learn by
degrees the art of reigning, and so be prepared to receive your authority
whenever in your discernment you shall think him qualified.'
The
sultan found this advice of his prime minister highly reasonable, therefore he
summoned the prince to appear before him at the same time that he dismissed the
grand vizier.
The
prince, who had been accustomed to see his father only at certain times,
without being sent for, was a little startled at this summons; when, therefore,
he came before him, he saluted him with great respect, and stood with his eyes
fixed on the ground.
The
prince modestly replied, 'God alone knows the heart; I shall hear it from your
majesty with pleasure.'
'I
sent for you,' said the sultan, 'to inform you that I have an intention of providing
a proper marriage for you; what do you think of it?'
Prince
Camaralzaman heard this with great uneasiness: it so surprised him, that he
paused and knew not what answer to make. After a few moments' silence, he
replied, 'Sir, I beseech you to pardon me if I seem surprised at the
declaration you have made to me. I did not expect such proposals to one so
young as I am. It requires time to determine on what your majesty requires of
me.'
Prince
Camaralzaman's answer extremely afflicted his father. He was not a little
grieved to see what an aversion he had to marriage, yet would not charge him
with disobedience, nor exert his paternal authority. He contented himself with
telling him he would not force his inclinations, but give him time to consider
the proposal.
The
sultan said no more to the prince: he admitted him into his council, and gave
him every reason to be satisfied. At the end of the year he took him aside, and
said to him, 'My son, have you thoroughly considered what I proposed to you
last year about marrying? Will you still refuse me that pleasure I expect from
your obedience, and suffer me to die without it?'
The
prince seemed less disconcerted than before, and was not long answering his father to this
effect: 'Sir, I have not neglected to consider your proposal, but after the
maturest reflection find myself more confirmed in my resolution to continue as
I am, so that I hope your majesty will pardon me if I presume to tell you it
will be in vain to speak to me any further about marriage.' He stopped here,
and went out without staying to hear what the sultan would answer.
Any
other monarch would have been very angry at such freedom in a son, and would
have made him repent it, but the sultan loved him, and preferred gentle methods
before he proceeded to compulsion. He communicated this new cause of discontent
to his prime minister. 'I have followed your advice,' said he, 'but
Camaralzaman is further than ever from complying with my desires. He delivered
his resolution in such free terms that it required all my reason and moderation
to keep my temper. Tell me, I beseech you, how I shall reclaim a disposition so
rebellious to my will?'
'Sir,'
answered the grand vizier, 'patience brings many things about that before
seemed impracticable, but it may be this affair is of a nature not likely to
succeed in that way. Your majesty would have no cause to reproach yourself if
you gave the prince another year to consider the matter. If, in this interval
he returns to his duty, you will have the greater satisfaction, and if he still
continues averse to your proposal when this is expired, your majesty may
propose to him in full council that it is highly necessary for the good of the
state that he should marry, and it is not likely he will refuse to comply
before so grave an assembly, which you honour with your presence.'
The
year expired, and, to the great regret of the sultan, Prince Camaralzaman gave
not the least proof of having changed his mind. One day, therefore, when there
was a great council held, the prime vizier, the other viziers, the principal
officers of the crown, and the generals of the army being present, the sultan
began to speak thus to the prince: 'My son, it is now a long while since I have
expressed to you my earnest desire to see you married; and I imagined you would
have had more consideration for a father, who required nothing unreasonable of
you, than to oppose him so long. But after so long a resistance on your part,
which has almost worn out my patience, I have thought fit to propose the same
thing once more to you in the presence of my council. I would have you consider
that you ought not to have refused this, not merely to oblige a parent; the
well-being of my dominions requires it; and the assembly here present joins
with me to require it of you. Declare yourself, then; that, according to your
answer, I may take the proper measures. '
The
prince answered with so little reserve, or rather with so much warmth, that the
sultan, enraged to see himself thwarted in full council, cried out, 'Unnatural
son! have you the insolence to talk thus to your father and sultan?' He ordered
the guards to take him away, and carry him to an old tower that had been
unoccupied for a long while, where he was shut up, with only a bed, a little
furniture, some books, and one slave to attend him.
Camaralzaman,
thus deprived of liberty, was nevertheless pleased that he had the freedom to
converse with his books, and that made him look on his imprisonment with
indifference. In the evening he bathed and said his prayers; and after having
read some chapters in the Koran, with the same tranquility of mind as if he had
been in the sultan's palace, he undressed himself and went to bed, leaving his
lamp burning by him all the while he slept.
In
this tower was a well, which served in the daytime for a retreat to a certain
fairy, named Maimoune, daughter of Damriat, king or head of a legion of genies.
It was about midnight when Maimoune sprang lightly to the mouth of the well, to
wander about the world after her wonted custom, where her curiosity led her.
She was surprised to see a light in Prince Camaralzaman's chamber, and entered,
without stopping, over the slave who lay at the door.
Prince
Camaralzaman had but half-covered his face with the bedclothes, and Maimoune
perceived the finest young man she had seen in all her rambles through the
world. 'What crime can he have committed,' said she to herself, 'that a man of
his high rank can deserve to be treated thus severely?' for she had already
heard his story, and could hardly believe it.
She
could not forbear admiring the prince, till at length, having kissed him gently
on both cheeks and in the middle of the forehead without waking him, she took
her flight into the air. As she mounted high to the middle region, she heard a great
flapping of wings, which made her fly that way; and when she approached, she
knew it was a genie who made the noise, but it was one of those that are
rebellious. As for Maimoune, she belonged to that class whom the great Solomon
compelled to acknowledge him.
This
genie, whose name was Danhasch, knew Maimoune, and was seized with fear, being
sensible how much power she had over him by her submission to the Almighty. He
would fain have avoided her, but she was so near him that he must either fight
or yield. He therefore broke silence first .
'Brave
Maimoune,' said he, in the tone of a suppliant, 'swear to me that you will not
hurt me; and I swear also on my part not to do you any harm.'
'Cursed
genie,' replied Maimoune, 'what hurt canst thou do me? I fear thee not; but I
will grant thee this favour; I will swear not to do thee any harm. Tell me
then, wandering spirit, whence thou comest, what thou hast seen, and what thou
hast done this night.'
'Fair
lady,' answered Danhasch, 'you meet me at a good time to hear something very
wonderful. I come from the utmost limits of China, which look on the last
islands of this hemisphere. But, charming Maimoune,' said Danhasch, who so
trembled with fear at the sight of this fairy that he could hardly speak,
'promise me at least that you will forgive me, and let me go on after I have
satisfied your demands.'
'Go
on, go on, cursed spirit,' replied Maimoune; 'go on and fear nothing. Dost thou
think I am as perfidious an elf as thyself, and capable of breaking the solemn
oath I have made? Be sure you tell nothing but what is true, or I shall clip
thy wings, and treat thee as thou deservest.'
Danhasch,
a little heartened at the words of Maimoune, said, 'My dear lady, I will tell
you nothing but what is strictly true, if you will but have the goodness to
hear me. The country of China, from whence I come, is one of the largest and
most powerful kingdoms of the earth. The king of this country is at present
Gaiour, who has an only daughter, the finest maiden that ever was seen in the
world since it was a world. Neither you nor I, nor your class nor mine, nor all
our respective genies, have expressions strong enough, nor eloquence sufficient
to describe this brilliant lady. Any one that did not know the king, father of
this incomparable princess would scarcely be able to imagine the great respect
and kindness he shows her. No one has ever dreamed of such care as his to keep
her from every one but the man who is to marry her: and, that the retreat which
he has resolved to place her in may not seem irksome to her, he has built for
her seven palaces, the most extraordinary and magnificent that ever were known.
'The
first palace is of rock crystal, the second of copper, the third of fine steel,
the fourth of brass, the fifth of touchstone, the sixth of silver, and the
seventh of massy gold. He has furnished these palaces most sumptuously, each in
a manner suited to the materials that they are built of. He has filled the
gardens with grass and flowers, intermixed with pieces of water, water- works,
fountains, canals, cascades, and several great groves of trees,
where the eye is lost in the prospect, and where the sun never enters, and all
differently arranged. King Gaiour, in a word, has shown that he has spared no
expense.
'Upon
the fame of this incomparable princess's beauty, the most powerful neighbouring
kings sent ambassadors to request her in marriage. The King of China received
them all in the same obliging manner; but as he resolved not to compel his
daughter to marry without her consent, and as she did not like any of the
suitors, the ambassadors were forced to return as they came: they were
perfectly satisfied with the great honours and civilities they had received.'
'"Sir,"
said the princess to the king her father, "you have an inclination to see
me married, and think to oblige me by it; but where shall I find such stately
palaces and delicious gardens as I have with your majesty? Through your good
pleasure I am under no constraint, and have the same honours shown to me as are
paid to yourself. These are advantages I cannot expect to find anywhere else,
to whatsoever husband I should give my hand; men love ever to be masters, and I
do not care to be commanded."
'At
last there came an embassy from the most rich and potent king of all. This
prince the King of China recommended to his daughter as her husband, urging
many powerful arguments to show how much it would be to her advantage to accept
him, but she intreated her father to dispense with her accepting him for the
same reasons as before, and at last 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 poniard in my bosom,
to deliver myself from your importunities."
'The
king, greatly enraged, said "Daughter, you are mad, and I must treat you
as such." 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. And in order that the kings his
neighbours, who had sent embassies to him on this 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 that she was
really mad, he charged them to make known in every court that if there were any
physician that would undertake to come and cure her, he should, if he
succeeded, marry her for his pains .
'Fair
Maimoune,' continued Danhasch, 'all that I have told you is true; and I have
not failed to go every day regularly to contemplate this incomparable beauty,
to whom I would be very 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; I am ready to wait on you as a guide, and you have only to
command me. I doubt not that you would think yourself obliged to me for the
sight of a princess unequalled for 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 laughed till she could laugh no more,
she cried, 'Good, good, very good! you would have me believe all you have told
me: I thought you intended to tell me something surprising and extraordinary,
and you have been talking all this while of a mad woman. What would you say,
cursed genie, if you had seen the beautiful prince that I have just come from
seeing? 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 you who is this prince you
speak of?'
'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 which I make my residence,
and whence I came but just now from admiring him.'
'I
will not absolutely contradict you,' replied Danhasch; 'but, my pretty lady,
you must give me leave to be of opinion, till I have seen your prince, that no
mortal upon earth can come up to the beauty of my princess.'
'Hold
thy tongue, cursed sprite,' replied Maimoune. 'I tell thee once more that that
can never be.'
'I
will not contend with you,' said Danhasch; 'but the way to be convinced whether
what I say is true or false is to accept the proposal I made you to go and see
my princess, and after that I will go with you to your prince.'
'There
is no need I should take so much pains' replied Maimoune; 'there is another way
to satisfy us both; and that is for you to bring your princess, and place her in my
prince's room; by this means it will be easy for us to compare them together
and determine the dispute.'
Danhasch
consented to what Maimoune had proposed, and determined to set out immediately
for China upon that errand. But Maimoune told him she must first show him the
tower whither he was to bring the princess. They flew together to the tower,
and when Maimoune had shown it to Danhasch, she cried, 'Go, fetch your
princess, and do it quickly, for you shall find me here: but listen, you shall
pay the wager if my prince is more beautiful than your princess, and I will pay
it if your princess is more beautiful than my prince.'
Danhasch
left Maimoune, and flew towards China, whence he soon returned with incredible
speed, bringing the fair princess along with him, asleep. Maimoune received
him, and introduced him into the tower of Prince Camaralzaman, where they
placed the princess still asleep.
At
once there arose a great contest between the genie and the fairy about their
respective beauty. They were some time admiring and comparing them without
speaking: at length Danhasch broke silence, and said to Maimoune, 'You see, as
I have already told you, my princess is handsomer than your prince; now, I
hope, you are convinced of it.'
'Convinced
of it!' replied Maimoune; 'I am not convinced of it, and you must be blind if
you cannot see that my prince is far handsomer. The princess is fair, I do not
deny; but if you compare them together without prejudice, you will quickly see
the difference.'
'Though
I should compare them ever so often,' said Danhasch, 'I could never change my
opinion. I saw at first sight what I see now, and time will not make me see
differently: however, this shall not hinder my yielding to you, charming
Maimoune, if you desire it.'
'Yield
to me as a favour? I scorn it,' said Maimoune: 'I would not receive a favour at
the hand of such a wicked genie; I refer the matter to an umpire, and if you
will not consent I shall win by your refusal.'
Danhasch
no sooner gave his consent than Maimoune stamped with her foot; the earth
opened, and out came a hideous, humpbacked, squinting, and lame genie, with six
horns on his head, and claws on his hands and feet. As soon as he had come
forth, and the earth had closed up, he, perceiving Maimoune, cast himself at her feet, and then
rising up on one knee asked her what she would please to do with him.
'Rise,
Caschcasch,' said Maimoune, 'I brought you hither to determine a difference
between me and Danhasch. Look there, and tell me, without partiality, which is
the handsomest of those two that lie asleep, the young man or the young lady.'
Caschcasch
looked at the prince and princess with great attention, admiration and
surprise; and after he had considered them a good while, without being able to determine
which was the handsomer, he turned to Maimoune, and said, 'Madam, I must
confess I should deceive you and betray myself, if I pretended to say that one
was a whit handsomer than the other: the more I examine them, the more it seems
to me that each possesses, in a sovereign degree, the beauty which is betwixt
them. But if there be any difference, the best way to determine it is to awaken
them one after the other, and by their conduct to decide which ought to be
deemed the most beautiful.'
This
proposal of Caschcasch's pleased equally both Maimoune and Danhasch. Maimoune
then changed herself into a gnat, and leaping on the prince's neck stung him so
smartly that he awoke, and put up his hand to the place; but Maimoune skipped
away, and resumed her own form, which, like those of the two genies, was
invisible, the better to observe what he would do.
In
drawing back his hand, the prince chanced to let it fall on that of the
Princess of China, and on opening his eyes, was exceedingly surprised to
perceive a lady of the greatest beauty. He raised his head and leaned on his
elbow, the better to consider her. She was so beautiful that he could not help
crying out, 'What beauty! my heart! my soul!' In saying which he kissed her
with so little caution that she would certainly have been awaked by it, had she
not slept sounder than ordinary, through the enchantment of Danhasch.
He
was going to awaken her at that instant, but suddenly refrained himself. 'Is
not this she,' said he, 'that the sultan my father would have had me marry? He
was in the wrong not to let me see her sooner. I should not have offended him
by my disobedience and passionate language to him in public, and he would have
spared himself the confusion which I have occasioned him.'
The
prince began to repent sincerely of the fault he had committed, and was once more upon the
point of waking the Princess of China. 'It may be,' said he, recollecting
himself, 'that the sultan my father has a mind to surprise me with this young
lady. Who knows but he has brought her himself, and is hidden behind the
curtains to make me ashamed of myself. I will content myself with this ring, as
a remembrance of her.'
He
then gently drew off a fine ring which the princess had on her finger, and
immediately put on one of his own in its place. After this he fell into a more
profound sleep than before through the enchantment of the genies.
As
soon as Prince Camaralzaman was in a sound sleep, Danhasch transformed himself,
and went and bit the princess so rudely on the lip that she forthwith awoke,
started up, and opening her eyes, was not a little surprised to see a beautiful
young prince. From surprise she proceeded to admiration, and from admiration to
a transport of joy.
'What,'
cried she, 'is it you the king my father has designed me for a husband? I am
indeed most unfortunate for not knowing it before, for then I should not have
made him so angry with me. Wake then, wake!'
So
saying, she took Prince Camaralzaman by the arm and shook him so that he would
have awaked, had not Maimoune increased his sleep by enchantment. She shook him
several times, and finding he did not wake, she seized his hand, and kissing it
eagerly, perceived he had a ring upon his finger which greatly resembled hers,
and which she was convinced was her own, by seeing she had another on her
finger instead of it. She could not comprehend how this exchange could have
been made. Tired with her fruitless endeavours to awaken the prince, she soon
fell asleep.
When
Maimoune saw that she could now speak without fear of awaking the princess, she
cried to Danhasch, 'Ah, cursed genie dost thou not now see what thy contest has
come to? Art thou not now convinced how much thy princess is inferior to my
prince? But I pardon thee thy wager. Another time believe me when I assert
anything.' Then turning to Caschcasch, 'As for you,' said she, 'I thank you for
your trouble; take the princess, you and Danhasch, and convey her back whence
he has taken her.' Danhasch and Caschcasch did as they were commanded, and
Maimoune retired to her well.
Prince
Camaralzaman on waking next morning looked to see if the lady whom he had seen the night
before were there. When he found she was gone, he cried out, 'I thought indeed
this was a trick the king my father designed to play me. I am glad I was aware
of it.' Then he waked the slave, who was still asleep, and bade him come and
dress him, without saying anything. The slave brought a basin and water, and
after he had washed and said his prayers, he took a book and read for some
time.
After
this, he called the slave, and said to him, 'Come hither, and look you, do not
tell me a lie. How came that lady hither, and who brought her?'
'My
lord,' answered the slave with great astonishment, 'I know not what lady your
highness speaks of.'
'I
speak,' said the prince, 'of her that came, or rather, that was brought
hither.'
'My
lord,' replied the slave, 'I swear I know of no such lady; and how should she
come in without my knowledge, since I lay at the door?'
'You
are a lying rascal,' replied the prince, 'and in the plot to vex and provoke me
the more.' So saying, he gave him a box on the ear which knocked him down; and
after having stamped upon him for some time, he at length tied the well-rope
under his arms, and plunged him several times into the water, neck and heels. I
will drown thee,' cried he, 'if thou dost not tell me speedily who this lady
was, and who brought her.'
The
slave, perplexed and half-dead, said within himself, 'The prince must have lost
his senses through grief.' 'My lord, then,' cried he, in a suppliant tone, 'I
beseech your highness to spare my life, and I will tell you the truth.'
The
prince drew the slave up, and pressed him to tell him. As soon as he was out of
the well, 'My lord,' said he trembling, 'your highness must perceive that it is
impossible for me to satisfy you in my present condition; I beg you to give me
leave to go and change my clothes first.'
'I
permit you, but do it quickly,' said the prince, 'and be sure you conceal
nothing.'
The
slave went out, and having locked the door upon the prince, ran to the palace
just as he was. The king was at that time in discourse with his prime vizier,
to whom he had just related the grief in which he had passed the night on account of his son's
disobedience and opposition to his will. The minister endeavoured to comfort
his master by telling him that the prince himself had given him good cause to
be angry. 'Sir,' said he, 'your majesty need not repent of having treated your
son after this sort. Have but patience to let him continue a while in prison,
and assure yourself his temper will abate, and he will submit to all you
require.'
The
grand vizier had just made an end of speaking when the slave came in and cast
himself at the king's feet. 'My lord,' said he, 'I am very sorry to be the messenger
of ill news to your majesty, which I know must create you fresh affliction. The
prince is distracted, my lord; and his treatment to me, as you may see, too
plainly proves it.' Then he proceeded to tell all the particulars of what
Prince Camaralzaman had said to him, and the violence with which he had been
treated.
The
king, who did not expect to hear anything of this afflictive kind, said to the
prime minister, 'This is very melancholy, very different from the hopes you
gave me just now: go immediately, without loss of time, see what is the matter,
and come and give me an account.'
The
grand vizier obeyed instantly; and coming into the prince's chamber, he found
him sitting on his bed in good temper, and with a book in his hand, which he
was reading.
After
mutual salutations, the vizier sat down by him, and said, 'My lord, I wish that
a slave of yours were punished for coming to frighten the king your father.'
'What,'
replied the prince, 'could give my father alarm? I have much greater cause to
complain of that slave.'
'Prince,'
answered the vizier, 'God forbid that the news which he has told your father
concerning you should be true; indeed, I myself find it to be false, by the
good temper I observe you in.'
'It
may be,' replied the prince, 'that he did not make himself well understood; but
since you are come, who ought to know something of the matter, give me leave to
ask you who was that lady who was here last night?'
The
grand vizier was thunderstruck at this question; however, he recovered himself
and said, 'My lord, be not surprised at my astonishment at your question. Is it possible that a
lady, or any other person in the world, should penetrate by night into this
place, without entering at the door and walking over the body of your slave? I
beseech you, recollect yourself, and you will find it is only a dream which has
made this impression on you.'
'I
give no ear to what you say,' said the prince, raising his voice; 'I must know
of you absolutely what is become of the lady; and if you hesitate to obey me, I
shall soon be able to force you to obey me.'
At
these stern words the grand vizier began to be in greater confusion than
before, and was thinking how to extricate himself. He endeavoured to pacify the
prince by good words, and begged of him, in the most humble and guarded manner,
to tell him if he had seen this lady.
'Yes,
yes,' answered the prince, 'I have seen her, and am very well satisfied you
sent her. She played the part you had given her admirably well, for I could not
get a word out of her. She pretended to be asleep, but I was no sooner fallen
into a slumber than she arose and left me. You know all this; for I doubt not
she has been to make her report to you.'
'My
lord,' replied the vizier, 'nothing of this has been done which you seem to
reproach me with; neither your father nor I have sent this lady you speak of;
permit me therefore to remind your highness once more that you have only seen
this lady in a dream.'
'Do
you come to affront and contradict me,' said the prince in a great rage, 'and
to tell me to my face that what I have told you is a dream?' At the same time
he took him by the beard, and loaded him with blows as long as he could stand.
The
poor grand vizier endured with respectful patience all the violence of his lord's
indignation, and could not help saying within himself, 'Now am I in as bad a
condition as the slave, and shall think myself happy if I can, like him, escape
from any further danger.' In the midst of repeated blows he cried out for but a
moment's audience, which the prince, after he had nearly tired himself with
beating him, consented to give.
'I
own, my prince,' said the grand vizier, dissembling, 'there is something in
what your highness suspects; but you cannot be ignorant of the necessity a
minister is under to obey his royal master's orders; yet, if you will but be
pleased to set me at liberty, I will go and tell him anything on your part that
you shall think fit to command me.'
'Go
then,' said the prince, 'and tell him from me that if he pleases I will marry
the lady he sent me. Do this quickly, and bring me a speedy answer.' The grand
vizier made a profound reverence, and went away, not thinking himself
altogether safe till he had got out of the tower, and shut the door upon the
prince.
He
came and presented himself before the king, with a countenance that
sufficiently showed he had been ill-used, which the king could not behold
without concern. 'Well,' said the king, 'in what condition did you find my
son?'
'Sir,'
answered the vizier, 'what the slave reported to your majesty is but too true.'
He then began to relate his interview with Camaralzaman, how he flew into a
passion upon his endeavouring to persuade him it was impossible that the lady
he spoke of should have got in; the ill-treatment he had received from him; how
he had been used, and by what means he made his escape.
The
king, the more concerned as he loved the prince with excessive tenderness,
resolved to find out the truth of this matter, and therefore proposed himself
to go and see his son in the tower, accompanied by the grand vizier.
Prince
Camaralzaman received the king his father in the tower with great respect. The
king sat down, and, after he had made his son the prince sit down by him, put
several questions to him, which he answered with great good sense. The king
every now and then looked at the grand vizier, as intimating that he did not
find his son had lost his wits, but rather thought he had lost his.
The
king at length spoke of the lady to the prince. 'My son,' said he, 'I desire
you to tell me what lady it was that came here, as I have been told.'
'Sir,'
answered Camaralzaman, 'I beg of your majesty not to give me more vexation on
that head, but rather to oblige me by letting me have her in marriage: this
young lady has charmed me. I am ready to receive her at your hands with the
deepest gratitude.'
The
king was surprised at this answer of the prince, so remote, as he thought, from
the good sense he had shown before. 'My son,' said he to him, 'you fill me with
the greatest astonishment imaginable by what you now say to me; I declare to
you by my crown, that is to devolve upon you after me, I know not one word of
the lady you mention; and if any such has come to you, it was altogether without my
knowledge. But how could she get into this tower without my consent? For
whatever my grand vizier told you, it was only to appease you: it must
therefore be a mere dream; and I beg of you not to believe otherwise, but to
recover your senses.'
'Sir,'
replied the prince, 'I should be for ever unworthy of your majesty's favour, if
I did not give entire credit to what you are pleased to say; but I humbly
beseech you at the same time to give a patient hearing to what I shall say to
you, and then to judge whether what I have the honour to tell you be a dream or
not.'
Then
Prince Camaralzaman related to the king his father after what manner he had
been awakened, and the pains he took to awaken the lady without effect, and how
he had made the exchange of his ring with that of the lady: showing the king
the ring, he added, 'Sir, your majesty must needs know my ring very well, you
have seen it so often. After this, I hope you will be convinced that I have not
lost my senses, as you have been almost made to believe.'
The
king was so perfectly convinced of the truth of what his son had been telling
him, that he had not a word to say, remaining astonished for some time, and not
being able to utter a syllable.
'Son,'
at length replied the king, 'after what I have just heard, and what I see by
the ring on your finger, I cannot doubt but that you have seen this lady. Would
I knew who she was, and I would make you happy from this moment, and I should
be the happiest father in the world! But where shall I find her, and how seek
for her? How could she get in here without my consent? Why did she come? These
things, I must confess, are past my finding out.' So saying, and taking the
prince by the hand, 'Come then, my son,' he said, 'let us go and be miserable
together.'
The
king then led his son out of the tower, and conveyed him to the palace, where
he no sooner arrived than in despair he fell ill, and took to his bed; the king
shut himself up with him, and spent many a day in weeping, without attending to
the affairs of his kingdom.
The
prime minister, who was the only person that had admittance to him, came one
day and told him that the whole court, and even the people, began to murmur at
not seeing him, and that he did not administer justice every day as he was wont
to do. 'I humbly beg your majesty, therefore,' proceeded he, 'to pay them some attention;
I am aware your majesty's company is a great comfort to the prince, but then
you must not run the risk of letting all be lost. Permit me to propose to your
majesty to remove with the prince to the castle in a little island near the
port, where you may give audience to your subjects twice a week only; during
these absences the prince will be so agreeably diverted with the beauty,
prospect, and good air of the place, that he will bear them with the less
uneasiness.'
The
king approved this proposal; and after the castle, where he had not resided for
some time, had been furnished, he removed thither with the prince; and,
excepting the times that he gave audience, as aforesaid, he never left him, but
passed all his time by his son's pillow, endeavouring to comfort him in sharing
his grief.
Whilst
matters passed thus, the two genies, Danhasch and Caschcasch, had carried the
Princess of China back to the palace where the king her father had shut her up.
When
she awoke the next morning, and found by looking to the right and left that
Prince Camaralzaman was not by, she cried out with a loud voice to her women.
Her nurse, who presented herself first, desired to be informed what she would
please to have, and if anything disagreeable had happened to her.
'Madam,'
replied the nurse, 'we cannot understand your highness, unless you will be
pleased to explain yourself.'
'A
young man, the best and most amiable,' said the princess 'whom I could not
awake; I ask you where he is?'
'Madam,'
answered the nurse, 'your highness asks these questions to jest with us. I
beseech you to rise.'
'I
am in earnest,' said the princess, 'and I must know where this young man is.'
'Madam,'
insisted the nurse, 'how any man could come without our knowledge we cannot
imagine, for we all slept about the door of your chamber, which was locked, and
I had the key in my pocket. '
At
this the princess lost all patience, and catching her nurse by the hair of her
head, and giving her two or three sound cuffs, she cried, 'You shall tell me
where this young man is, old sorceress, or I will beat your brains out.'
The
nurse struggled to get from her, and at last succeeded; when she went
immediately, with tears in her eyes, to complain to the queen her mother, who
was not a little surprised to see her in this condition, and asked who had done
this.
'Madam,'
began the nurse, 'you see how the princess has treated me; she would certainly
have murdered me, if I had not had the good fortune to escape out of her
hands.' She then began to tell what had been the cause of all that violent
passion in the princess. The queen was surprised to hear it, and could not
guess how she came to be so senseless as to take that for a reality which could
be no other than a dream. 'Your majesty must conclude from all this, madam,' continued
the nurse, 'that the princess is out of her senses. You will think so yourself
if you go and see her.'
The
queen ordered the nurse to follow her; and they went together to the princess's
palace that very moment.
The
Queen of China sat down by her daughter's bed-side, immediately upon her
arrival in her apartment; and after she had informed herself about her health,
she began to ask what had made her so angry with her nurse, that she should
have treated her in the manner she had done. 'Daughter,' said she, 'this is not
right; and a great princess like you should not suffer herself to be so
transported by passion.'
'Madam,'
replied the princess, 'I plainly perceive your majesty is come to mock me; but
I declare I will never let you rest till you consent I shall marry the young
man. You must know where he is, and therefore I beg of your majesty to let him
come to me again.'
'Daughter,'
answered the queen, 'you surprise me; I know nothing of what you talk of.' Then
the princess lost all respect for the queen: 'Madam,' replied she, 'the king my
father and you persecuted me about marrying, when I had no inclination; I now
have an inclination, and I will marry this young man I told you of, or I will
kill myself.'
Here
the queen endeavoured to calm the princess by soft words. 'Daughter,' said she, 'how could any
man come to you?' But instead of hearing her, the princess interrupted her, and
flew out into such violence as obliged the queen to leave her, and retire in
great affliction to inform the king of all that had passed.
The
king hearing it had a mind likewise to be satisfied in person; and coming to
his daughter's apartment, asked her if what he had just heard was true. 'Sir,'
replied the princess, 'let us talk no more of that; I only beseech your majesty
to grant me the favour that I may marry the young man. He was the finest and
best made youth the sun ever saw. I entreat you, do not refuse me. But that
your majesty may not longer doubt whether I have seen this young man, whether I
did not do my utmost to awake him, without succeeding, see, if you please, this
ring.' She then reached forth her hand, and showed the king a man's ring on her
finger. The king did not know what to make of all this; but as he had shut her
up as mad, he began to think her more mad than ever: therefore, without saying
anything more to her, for fear she might do violence to herself or somebody
about her, he had her chained, and shut up more closely than before, allowing
her only the nurse to wait on her, with a good guard at the door.
The
king, exceedingly concerned at this indisposition of his daughter, sought all
possible means to get her cured. He assembled his council, and after having
acquainted them with the condition she was in, 'If any of you,' said he, 'is
capable of undertaking her cure, and succeeds, I will give her to him in
marriage, and make him heir to my dominions and crown after my decease.'
The
desire of marrying a handsome young princess, and the hopes of one day
governing so powerful a kingdom as that of China, had a strange effect on an
emir, already advanced in age, who was present at this council. As he was well
skilled in magic, he offered to cure the king's daughter, and flattered himself
he should succeed.
'I
consent,' said the king, 'but I forgot to tell you one thing, and that is, that
if you do not succeed you shall lose your head. It would not be reasonable that
you should have so great a reward, and yet run no risk on your part; and what I
say to you,' continued the king, 'I say to all others that shall come after
you, that they may consider beforehand what they undertake.'
The
emir, however, accepted the condition, and the king conducted him to where the
princess was. She covered her face as soon as she saw them come in, and cried
out, 'Your majesty surprises me by bringing with you a man whom I do not know, and by whom my
religion forbids me to let myself be seen.'
'Daughter,'
replied the king, 'you need not be scandalized, it is only one of my emirs who
is come to demand you in marriage.'
'It
is not, I perceive, the person that you have already given me, and whose faith
is plighted by the ring I wear,' replied the princess; 'be not offended that I
will never marry any other.'
The
emir expected the princess would have said or done some extravagant thing, and
was not a little disappointed when he heard her talk so calmly and rationally;
for then he understood what was really the matter. He dared not explain himself
to the king, who would not have suffered the princess to give her hand to any
other than the person to whom he wished to give her with his own hand. He
therefore threw himself at his majesty's feet, and said, 'After what I have
heard and observed, sir, it will be to no purpose for me to think of curing the
princess, since I have no remedies suited to her malady, for which reason I
humbly submit my life to your majesty's pleasure.' The king, enraged at his
incapacity and the trouble he had given him, caused him immediately to be
beheaded.
Some
days afterwards, his majesty, unwilling to have it said that he had neglected
his daughter's cure, put forth a proclamation in his capital, to the effect
that if there were any physician, astrologer, or magician, who would undertake
to restore the princess to her senses, he need only come, and he should be employed,
on condition of losing his head if he miscarried. He had the same published in
the other principal cities and towns of his dominions, and in the courts of the
princes his neighbours.
The
first that presented himself was an astrologer and magician, whom the king
caused to be conducted to the princess's prison. The astrologer drew forth out
of a bag he carried under his arm an astrolabe, a small sphere, a chafing dish,
several sorts of drugs for fumigations, a brass pot, with many other things,
and desired he might have a fire lighted.
The
princess demanded what all these preparations were for.
'Madam,'
answered the astrologer, 'they are to exorcise the evil spirit that possesses
you, to shut him up in this pot, and throw him into the sea.'
'Foolish
astrologer,' replied the princess, 'I have no occasion for any of your preparations, but am
in my perfect senses, and you alone are mad. If your art can bring him I love
to me, I shall be obliged to you; otherwise you may go about your business, for
I have nothing to do with you.'
'Madam,'
said the astrologer, 'if your case be so, I shall desist from all endeavours, believing
that only the king your father can remedy your disaster.' So putting up his
apparatus again, he marched away, very much concerned that he had so easily
undertaken to cure an imaginary malady.
Coming
to give an account to the king of what he had done, he began thus boldly:
'According to what your majesty published in your proclamation, and what you
were pleased to confirm to me yourself, I thought the princess was distracted,
and depended on being able to recover her by the secrets I have long been
acquainted with, but I soon found that your majesty alone is the physician who
can cure her, by giving her in marriage the person whom she desires.'
The
king was very much enraged at the astrologer, and had his head cut off upon the
spot. Not to make too long a story of it, a hundred and fifty astrologers,
physicians, and magicians all underwent the same fate, and their heads were set
up on poles on every gate of the city.
The
Princess of China's nurse had a son whose name was Marzavan, and who had been
foster-brother to the princess, and brought up with her. Their friendship was
so great during their childhood, and all the time they had been together, that
they treated each other as brother and sister as they grew up, even some time
after their separation.
This
Marzavan, among other studies, had from his youth been much addicted to
judicial astrology, geomancy, and the like secret arts, wherein he became
exceedingly skilful. Not content with what he had learned from masters, he
travelled as soon as he was able to bear the fatigue, and there was hardly any
person of note in any science or art but he sought him in the most remote
cities, and kept company with him long enough to obtain all the information he
desired, so great was his thirst after knowledge.
After
several years' absence in foreign parts on this account, he returned to the
capital city of his native country, China, where seeing so many heads on the
gate by which he entered, he was exceedingly surprised; and coming home he
demanded for what reason they had been placed there, but more especially he inquired after the
princess his foster-sister, whom he had not forgotten. As he could not receive
an answer to one inquiry without the other, he heard at length a general
account with much sorrow, waiting till he could learn more from his mother, the
princess's nurse.
Although
the nurse, mother to Marzavan, was very much taken up with the princess, she no
sooner heard that her dear son had returned than she found time to come out,
embrace him, and converse with him a little. Having told him, with tears in her
eyes, what a sad condition the princess was in, and for what reason the king
her father had shut her up, he desired to know of his mother if she could not
procure him a private sight of her royal mistress, without the king's knowing
it. After some pause, she told him she could say nothing for the present, but
if he would meet her the next day at the same hour, she would give him an
answer.
The
nurse knowing that none could approach the princess but herself without leave
of the officer who commanded the guard at the gate, addressed herself to him,
who she knew had been so lately appointed that he could know nothing of what
had passed at the court of China. 'You know,' said she to him, 'I have brought
up the princess, and you may likewise have heard that I had a daughter whom I
brought up along with her. This daughter has since been married; yet the
princess still does her the honour to love her, and would fain see her, but
without anybody's perceiving her coming in or out.'
The
nurse would have gone on, but the officer cried, 'Say no more; I will with
pleasure do anything to oblige the princess; go and fetch your daughter, or
send for her about midnight, and the gate shall be open to you.'
As
soon as night came, the nurse went to look for her son Marzavan, and having
found him, she dressed him so artificially in women's clothes that nobody could
know he was a man. She carried him along with her, and the officer verily
believing it was her daughter, admitted them together.
The
nurse, before she presented Marzavan, went to the princess, and said, 'Madam,
this is not a woman I have brought to you; it is my son Marzavan in disguise,
newly arrived from his travels, and he having a great desire to kiss your hand,
I hope your highness will admit him to that honour.'
'What!
my brother Marzavan,' said the princess, with great joy: 'come hither,' cried
she, 'and take off that veil; for it is not unreasonable, surely, that a
brother and a
sister should see each other without covering their faces.'
Marzavan
saluted her with profound respect, when she, without giving him time to speak,
cried out, 'I am rejoiced to see you returned in good health, after so many
years' absence without sending the least account all the while of your welfare,
even to your good mother.'
'Madam,'
replied Marzavan, 'I am infinitely obliged to your highness for your goodness
in rejoicing at my health: I hoped to have heard a better account of yours than
what to my great affliction I am now witness of. Nevertheless, I cannot but
rejoice that I am come seasonably enough to bring your highness that remedy of
which you stand so much in need; and though I should reap no other fruit of my
studies and long voyage, I should think myself fully recompensed.'
Speaking
these words, Marzavan drew forth out of his pocket a book and other things,
which he judged necessary to be used, according to the account he had had from
his mother of the princess's illness. The princess, seeing him make all these
preparations, cried out, 'What! brother, are you then one of those that believe
me mad? Undeceive yourself and hear me.'
The
princess then began to relate to Marzavan all the particulars of her story,
without omitting the least circumstance, even to the ring which was exchanged
for hers, and which she showed him.
After
the princess had done speaking, Marzavan, filled with wonder and astonishment,
continued for some time with his eyes fixed on the ground, without speaking a
word; but at length he lifted up his head and said, 'If it be as your highness
says, which I do not in the least doubt, I do not despair of procuring you the
satisfaction you desire; but I must first entreat your highness to arm yourself
with patience for some time longer, till I shall return after I have travelled
over kingdoms which I have not yet visited; and when you hear of my return, be
assured that the object of your wishes is not far off.' So saying, Marzavan
took leave of the princess, and set out next morning on his intended journey.
He
travelled from city to city, from province to province, and from island to
island, and in every place he passed through he could hear of nothing but the Princess
Badoura (which was the Princess of China's name), and her history .
About
four months afterwards, Marzavan arrived at Torf, a seaport town, great and
populous, where he no more heard of the Princess Badoura, but where all the
talk was of Prince Camaralzaman, who was ill, and whose history very much
resembled hers. Marzavan was extremely delighted to hear this, and informed
himself of the place where the prince was to be found. There were two ways to
it; one by land and sea, the other by sea only, which was the shortest way.
Marzavan
chose the latter, and embarking on board a merchant ship, he arrived safe in
sight of the capital; but, just before it entered the port, the ship struck
against a rock through the unskilfulness of the pilot, and foundered. It went
down in sight of Prince Camaralzaman's castle, where were at that time the king
and his grand vizier.
Marzavan
could swim very well, and immediately on the ship's sinking cast himself into
the sea, and got safe to the shore under the castle, where he was soon relieved
by the grand vizier's order. After he had changed his clothes and been well treated,
and had recovered, he was introduced to the grand vizier, who had sent for him.
Marzavan
being a young man of good air and address, this minister received him very
civilly; and when he heard him give such just and fitting answers to what was
asked of him, conceived a great esteem for him. He also gradually perceived
that he possessed a great deal of knowledge, and therefore said to him, 'From
what I can understand, I perceive you are no common man; you have travelled a
great way: would to God you had learned any secret for curing a certain sick
person, who has greatly afflicted this court for a long while!'
Marzavan
replied that if he knew what malady it was, he might perhaps find a remedy for
it.
Then
the grand vizier related to him the whole story of Prince Camaralzaman from its
origin, and concealed nothing; his birth, his education, the inclination the
king his father had to see him married early, his resistance and extraordinary
aversion to marriage, his disobeying his father in full council, his imprisonment,
his pretended extravagancies in prison, which were afterwards changed into a
violent madness for a certain unknown lady, who, he pretended, had exchanged a
ring with him; though, for his part, he verily believed there was no such
person in the world .
Marzavan
gave great attention to all the grand vizier said; and was infinitely rejoiced
to find that, by means of his shipwreck, he had so fortunately lighted on the
person he was looking after. He saw no reason to doubt that Prince Camaralzaman
was the man, and the Princess of China the lady; therefore, without explaining
himself further to the vizier, he desired to see him, that he might be better
able to judge of his illness and its cure. 'Follow me,' said the grand vizier,
'and you will find the king with him, who has already desired that I should
introduce you.'
The
first thing that struck Marzavan on entering the prince's chamber was to find him
upon his bed languishing, and with his eyes shut. Although he saw him in that
condition, and although the king his father was sitting by him, he could not
help crying out, 'Was there ever a greater resemblance!' He meant to the
Princess of China; for it seems the princess and prince were much alike.
The
words of Marzavan excited the prince's curiosity so far that he opened his eyes
and looked at him. Marzavan, who had a ready wit, laid hold of that
opportunity, and made his compliment in verse extempore: but in such a
disguised manner, that neither the king nor grand vizier understood anything of
the matter. However, he represented so nicely what had happened to him with the
Princess of China, that the prince had no reason to doubt that he knew her, and
could give him tidings of her. This made him so joyful, that the effects of it
showed themselves in his eyes and looks.
After
Marzavan had finished his compliment in verse which surprised Prince
Camaralzaman so agreeably, his highness took the liberty to make a sign to the
king his father, to go from the place where he was, and let Marzavan sit by
him.
The
king, overjoyed at this alteration, which gave him hopes of his son's speedy
recovery, quitted his place, and taking Marzavan by the hand, led him to it.
Then his majesty demanded of him who he was, and whence he came. And upon
Marzavan's answering that he was a subject of China and came from that kingdom,
the king cried out, 'Heaven grant that you may be able to cure my son of this
profound melancholy, and I shall be eternally obliged to you; all the world
shall see how handsomely I will reward you.' Having said thus, he left the
prince to converse at full liberty with the stranger, whilst he went and
rejoiced with the grand vizier.
Marzavan
leaning down to the prince, spoke low in his ear, thus: 'Prince,' said he, 'it is time you
should cease to grieve. The lady for whom you suffer is the Princess Badoura,
daughter of Gaiour, King of China. This I can assure your highness from what
she has told me of her adventure, and what I have learned of yours. She has
suffered no less on your account than you have on hers.' Here he began to
relate all that he knew of the princess's story, from the night of their
extraordinary interview.
He
omitted not to acquaint him how the king had treated those who had failed in
their pretensions to cure the princess of her indisposition. 'But your highness
is the only person,' added he, 'that can cure her effectually, and may present
yourself without fear. However, before you undertake so great a voyage, I would
have you perfectly recovered, and then we will take such measures as are
necessary. Think then immediately of the recovery of your health.'
This
discourse had a marvellous effect on the prince. He found such great relief that
he felt he had strength to rise, and begged leave of his father to dress
himself, with such an air as gave the old king incredible pleasure.
The
king could not refrain from embracing Marzavan, without inquiring into the
means he had used to produce this wonderful effect, and soon after went out of
the prince's chamber with the grand vizier to publish this agreeable news. He
ordered public rejoicings for several days together, and gave great largesses
to his officers and the people, alms to the poor, and caused the prisoners to
be set at liberty throughout his kingdom. The joy was soon general in the capital
and every corner of his dominions.
Prince
Camaralzaman, though extremely weakened by almost continual want of sleep and
long abstinence from almost all food, soon recovered his health. When he found
himself in a condition to undertake the voyage, he took Marzavan aside, and
said, 'Dear Marzavan, it is now time to perform the promise you have made me. I
burn with impatience to see the charming princess, and if we do not set out on
our journey immediately I shall soon relapse into my former condition. One
thing still troubles me,' continued he, 'and that is the difficulty I shall
meet with in getting leave of my father to go. This would be a cruel disappointment
to me, if you do not contrive a way to prevent it. You see he scarcely ever
leaves me.'
At
these words the prince fell to weeping: and Marzavan said, 'I foresaw this
difficulty; let not your highness be grieved at that, for I will undertake to
prevent it. My
principal design in this voyage was to deliver the Princess of China from her
malady, and this from all the reasons of mutual affection which we have borne
to each other from our birth, besides the zeal and affection I otherwise owe
her; and I should be wanting in my duty to her, if I did not do my best
endeavour to effect her cure and yours, and exert my utmost skill. This then is
the means I have contrived to obtain your liberty. You have not stirred abroad
for some time, therefore let the king your father understand you have a mind to
take the air, and ask his leave to go out on a hunting party for two or three
days with me. No doubt he will grant your request; when he has done so, order
two good horses to be got ready, one to mount, the other to change, and leave
the rest to me.'
Next
day Prince Camaralzarnan took his opportunity. He told the king he was desirous
to take the air, and, if he pleased, would go and hunt for two or three days
with Marzavan. The king gave his consent, but bade him be sure not to stay out
above one night, since too much exercise at first might impair his health, and
a too long absence create his majesty uneasiness. He then ordered him to choose
the best horses in his stable, and himself took particular care that nothing
should be wanting. When all was ready, his majesty embraced the prince, and
having recommended the care of him to Marzavan, he let him go. Prince
Camaralzaman and Marzavan were soon mounted, when, to amuse the two grooms that
led the fresh horses, they made as if they would hunt, and so got as far off
the city and out of the road as was possible. When night began to approach,
they alighted at a caravansera or inn, where they supped, and slept till about
midnight; then Marzavan awakened the prince without awakening the grooms, and
desired his highness to let him have his suit, and to take another for himself,
which was brought in his baggage. Thus equipped, they mounted the fresh horses,
and after Marzavan had taken one of the groom's horses by the bridle, they set
out as hard as their horses could go.
At
daybreak they were in a forest, where, coming to the meeting of four roads,
Marzavan desired the prince to wait for him a little, and went into the forest.
He then killed the groom's horse, and after having torn the prince's suit,
which he had put off, he besmeared it with blood and threw it into the highway.
The
prince demanded his reason for what he had done. He told his highness he was
sure the king his father would no sooner find that he did not return, and come
to know that he had departed without the grooms, than he would suspect
something, and immediately send people in quest of them. 'They that come to this place,' said
he, 'and find these blood-stained clothes, will conclude you are devoured by
wild beasts, and that I have escaped to avoid the king's anger. The king,
persuading himself that you are dead will stop further pursuit, and we may have
leisure to continue our journey without fear of being followed. I must
confess,' continued Marzavan, 'that this is a violent way of proceeding, to
alarm an old father with the death of his son, whom he loves so passionately;
but his joy will be the greater when he hears you are alive and happy.'
'Brave
Marzavan,' replied the prince,' I cannot but approve such an ingenious
stratagem, or sufficiently admire your conduct: I am under fresh obligations to
you for it.'
The
prince and Marzavan, well provided with cash for their expenses, continued
their journey both by land and sea, and found no other obstacle but the length
of time which it necessarily took up. They, however, arrived at length at the
capital of China, where Marzavan, instead of going to his lodgings, carried the
prince to a public inn. They tarried there incognito for three days to rest
themselves after the fatigue of the voyage; during which time Marzavan caused
an astrologer's dress to be made for the prince. The three days being expired,
the prince put on his astrologer's habit; and Marzavan left him to go and
acquaint his mother, the Princess Badoura's nurse, of his arrival, to the end
that she might inform the Princess.
Prince
Camaralzaman, instructed by Marzavan as to what he was to do, and provided with
all he wanted as an astrologer, came next morning to the gate of the king's
palace, before the guards and porters, and cried aloud, 'I am an astrologer,
and am come to effect a cure on the estimable Princess Badoura, daughter of the
most high and mighty monarch Gaiour, King of China, on the conditions proposed
by his majesty, to marry her if I succeed, or else to lose my life for my
fruitless and presumptuous attempt.'
Besides
the guards and porters at the gate, this drew together a great number of people
about Prince Camaralzaman. No physician, astrologer, nor magician had appeared
for a long time, deterred by the many tragic examples of ill success that
appeared before their eyes; it was therefore thought that there were no more
men of these professions in the world, or that there were no more so mad as
those that had gone before them.
The
prince's good mien, noble air, and blooming youth made everybody that saw him pity him. 'What
mean you, sir,' said some that were nearest to him, 'thus to expose a life of
such promising expectation to certain death? Cannot the heads you see on all
the gates of this city deter you from such an undertaking? Consider what you
do: abandon this rash attempt, and be gone.'
The
prince continued firm, notwithstanding all these remonstrances; and as he saw
nobody come to introduce him, he repeated the same cry with a boldness that
made everybody tremble. Then they all cried, 'Let him alone, he is resolved to
die; God have mercy upon his youth and his soul!' He then proceeded to cry out
a third time in the same manner, when the grand vizier came in person, and
introduced him to the King of China.
As
soon as the prince came into the king's presence, he bowed and kissed the
ground. The king, who, of all that had hitherto presumptuously exposed their
lives on this occasion, had not seen one worthy to cast his eyes upon, felt real
compassion for Prince Camaralzaman on account of the danger he was about to
undergo. But as he thought him more deserving than ordinary, he showed him more
honour, and made him come and sit by him. 'Young man,' said he, 'I can hardly
believe that you, at this age, can have acquired experience enough to dare
attempt the cure of my daughter. I wish you may succeed; and would give her to
you in marriage with all my heart, with the greatest joy, more willingly than I
should have done to others that have offered themselves before you; but I must
declare to you at the same time, with great concern, that if you do not succeed
in your attempt, notwithstanding your noble appearance and your youth you must
lose your head.'
'Sir,'
replied the prince, 'I am under infinite obligations to your majesty for the
honour you design me, and the great goodness you show to a stranger; but I
desire your majesty to believe that I would not have come from so remote a
country as I have done, the name of which perhaps may be unknown in your
dominions, if I had not been certain of the cure I propose. What would not the
world say of my fickleness, if, after such great fatigues and dangers as I have
undergone on this account, I should abandon the enterprise? Even your majesty
would soon lose that esteem you have conceived for me. If I must die, sir, I
shall die with the satisfaction of not having lost your esteem after I have
merited it. I beseech your majesty therefore to keep me no longer impatient to
display the certainty of my art.'
Then
the king commanded the officer who had the custody of the princess to introduce Prince
Camaralzaman into her apartment: but before he would let him go, he reminded
him once more that he was at liberty to renounce his design; yet the prince
paid no heed, but, with astonishing resolution and eagerness, followed the
officer.
When
they came to a long gallery, at the end of which was the princess's apartment,
the prince, who saw himself so near the object of the wishes which had
occasioned him so many tears, pushed on, and got before the officer.
The
officer, redoubling his pace, with much ado got up with him. 'Whither away so
fast?' cried he, taking him by the arm; 'you cannot get in without me: and it
would seem that you have a great desire for death thus to run to it headlong.
Not one of all those many astrologers and magicians I have introduced before
made such haste as yourself to a place whither I fear you will come but too
soon.'
'Friend,'
replied the Prince, looking earnestly at the officer, and continuing his pace,
'this was because none of the astrologers you speak of were so sure of their
art as I am of mine: they were certain, indeed, that they would die if they did
not succeed, but they had no certainty of their success. On this account they
had reason to tremble on approaching the place whither I go, and where I am
sure to find my happiness.' He had just spoken these words as he was at the
door. The officer opened it, and introduced him into a great hall, whence was
an entrance into the princess's chamber, divided from it only by a piece of
tapestry.
Prince
Camaralzaman stopt before he entered, speaking softly to the officer for fear
of being heard in the princess's chamber. 'To convince you,' said he, 'that
there is neither presumption, nor whim, nor youthful conceit in my undertaking,
I leave it to your own desire whether I should cure the princess in your
presence, or where we are, without going any further?'
The
officer was amazed to hear the prince talk to him with such confidence: he left
off insulting him, and said seriously, 'It is no matter whether you do it here
or there, provided the business is done: cure her how you will, you will get
immortal honour by it, not only in this court, but over all the world.'
The
prince replied, 'It will be best then to cure her without seeing her, that you
may be witness of my skill: notwithstanding my impatience to see a princess of
her rank, who is to be my wife, yet, out of respect to you, I will deprive
myself of that pleasure for a little while.' He was furnished with everything
suitable for an
astrologer to carry about him; and taking pen, ink, and paper out of his
pocket, he wrote a letter to the princess.
When
the prince had finished his letter, he folded it up, and enclosed in it the
princess's ring, without letting the officer see what he did. When he had
sealed it, he gave it to him: 'There, friend,' said he, 'carry it to your
mistress; if it does not cure her as soon as she reads it, and sees what is
inclosed in it, I give you leave to tell everybody that I am the most ignorant
and impudent astrologer that ever was, is, or shall be.'
The
officer, entering the Princess of China's chamber, gave her the packet he
received from Prince Camaralzaman. 'Madam,' said he, 'the boldest astrologer
that ever lived, if I am not mistaken, has arrived here, and pretends that on
reading this letter and seeing what is in it you will be cured; I wish he may
prove neither a liar nor an impostor.'
The
Princess Badoura took the letter, and opened it with a great deal of
indifference, but when she saw the ring, she had not patience to read it
through; she rose hastily, broke the chain that held her, ran to the door and
opened it. She knew the prince as soon as she saw him, and he knew her; they at
once embraced each other tenderly, without being able to speak for excess of
joy: they looked on one another a long time, wondering how they met again after
their first interview. The princess's nurse, who ran to the door with her, made
them come into her chamber, where the Princess Badoura gave the prince her
ring, saying, 'Take it; I cannot keep it without restoring yours, which I will
never part with; neither can it be in better hands.'
The
officer immediately went to tell the King of China what had happened. 'Sir,'
said he, 'all the astrologers and doctors who have hitherto pretended to cure
the princess were fools in comparison with the last. He made use neither of
schemes nor spells or perfumes, or anything else, but cured her without seeing
her.' Then he told the king how he did it. The monarch was agreeably surprised
at the news, and going forthwith to the princess's chamber embraced her: he
afterwards embraced the prince, and, taking his hand, joined it to the
princess's.
'Happy
stranger,' said the king, 'whoever you are, I will keep my word, and give you
my daughter to marry; though, from what I see in you, it is impossible for me
to believe that you are really what you appear to be, and would have me believe
you. '
Prince
Camaralzaman thanked the king in the most humble tones, that he might the
better show his gratitude. 'As for my person,' said he, 'I must own I am not an
astrologer, as your majesty very judiciously guessed; I only put on the habit
of one, that I might succeed more easily in my ambition to be allied to the
most potent monarch in the world. I was born a prince, and the son of a king
and queen; my name is Camaralzaman; my father is Schahzaman, who now reigns
over the islands that are well known by the name of the Islands of the Children
of Khaledan.' He then told him his history.
When
the prince had done speaking, the king said to him, 'This history is so extraordinary
that it deserves to be known to posterity; I will take care it shall be; and
the original being deposited in my royal archives, I will spread copies of it
abroad, that my own kingdoms and the kingdoms around me may know it.'
The
marriage was solemnized the same day, and the rejoicings for it were universal
all over the empire of China. Nor was Marzavan forgotten: the king immediately
gave him an honourable post in his court, and a promise of further advancement;
and held continual feastings for several months, to show his joy .
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