Page:Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp.djvu/187

143 had taken her bridegroom, leaving her alone, and how after a little there came another youth and lay down in the place of her bridegroom, putting a sword between himself and her; “and in the morning” [quoth she] “he who had brought us thither returned and taking us up, carried us back to our place here: and hardly had he brought us hither and left us when my father the Sultan entered and I had neither heart nor tongue to answer him for stress of fright and trembling which possessed me. And belike my father is vexed with me; wherefore I prithee, O my mother, tell him the cause of this my case, so he be not wroth with me for my failure to answer him neither blame me, but excuse me.”

When the queen heard the princess’s story, she said to her, “O my daughter, beware of telling this tale before any, lest they say, ‘Verily the Sultan’s daughter hath lost her wits.’ Marry, thou diddest well in that thou acquaintedst not thy father with this; and beware, yea [again I say,] beware, O my daughter, of telling him thereof.” “O my mother,” rejoined the Lady Bedrulbudour, “indeed, I bespoke thee in sober earnest and