13-04

[00:00.10] I took away the earth that covered it,

[00:02.49] and having lifted it up, discovered a flight of stairs, which I

[00:06.74] descended with my axe in my hand.

[00:09.13] When I had reached the bottom, I found myself in a palace, and

[00:15.50] felt great consternation, on account of a great light which

[00:20.02] appeared as clear in it as if it had been above ground in the

[00:23.48] open air. I went forward along a gallery, supported by pillars of

[00:28.52] jasper, the base and capitals of messy gold: but seeing a lady of

[00:35.43] a noble and graceful air, extremely beautiful, coming towards me,

[00:40.20] my eyes were taken off from every other objets.

[00:44.20] Being desirous to spare the lady the trouble of coming to me, I

[00:48.98] hastened to meet her; and as I was saluting her with a low

[00:52.70] obeisance, she asked me, "What are you, a man or a genie?" "A

[00:59.33] man, madam," said I; "I have no correspondence with genies." "By

[01:05.97] what adventure," said she, fetching a deep sigh, "are you come

[01:09.69] hither? I have lived here twenty-five years, and you are the:

[01:14.21] first man I have beheld in that time."

[01:17.93] Her great beauty, which had already smitten me, and the sweetness

[01:22.97] and civility wherewith she received me, emboldened me to say,

[01:26.68] "Madam, before I have the honour to satisfy your curiosity, give

[01:31.74] me leave to tell you, that I am infinitely gratified with this

[01:34.92] unexpected meeting, which offers me an occasion of consolation in

[01:38.90] the midst of my affliction; and perhaps it may give me an

[01:42.90] opportunity of making you also more happy than you are."

[01:46.87] I

[01:47.94] related to her by what strange accident she beheld me, the son of

[01:51.94] a sultan, in such a condition as I appeared in her presence; and

[01:56.73] how fortune had directed that I should discover the entrance into

[02:00.17] that magnificent prison where I had found her, according to

[02:04.16] appearance, in an unpleasant situation.

[02:07.34] "Alas! prince," said she, sighing once more, "you have just cause

[02:14.24] to believe this rich and pompous prison cannot be otherwise than

[02:19.02] a most wearisome abode: the most charming place in the world

[02:23.81] being no way delightful when we are detained there contrary to

[02:27.53] our will. It is not possible but you have heard of the sultan of

[02:32.07] the isle of Ebene, so called from that precious wood which it

[02:36.86] produces in abundance; I am the princess his daughter.

[02:41.63] "The sultan, my father, had chosen for me a husband, a prince who

[02:47.73] was my cousin; but on my wedding-night, in the midst of the

[02:52.01] rejoicings of the court and capital, before I was conducted to my

[02:56.26] husband, a genie took me away. I fainted with alarm, and when I

[03:01.30] recovered, found myself in this place. I was long inconsolable,

[03:07.15] but time and necessity have accustomed me to see and receive the

[03:11.65] genie. Twenty-five years I have continued in this place, where, I

[03:16.98] must confess, I have all that I can wish for necessary to life,

[03:21.22] and also every thing that can satisfy a princess fond of dress

[03:25.75] and splendour.

[03:27.08] "Every ten days," continued the princess, "the genie comes

[03:31.84] hither, and remains with me one night, which he never exceeds;

[03:36.62] and the excuse he makes for it is, that he is married to another

[03:41.15] wife, who would grow jealous if she should know his infidelity.