Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/179

157 the door on her and going to his sister, told her how he had made prize of the princess and carried her to his chamber, where she was now sitting, weeping and biting her hands. When she heard this, she rose forthright and betook herself to the chamber, where she found the captive princess weeping and mourning.

So she kissed the earth before her and saluted her, and the princess said to her, ‘O king’s daughter, do folk like you deal thus foully with kings’ daughters? Thou knowest that my father is a mighty king and that all the kings of the Jinn stand in awe of him and fear his mischief; for that there are with him magicians and sages and diviners and devils and Marids, such as none may cope withal, and under his hand are folk whose tale none knoweth save God. How then doth it beseem you, O daughters of kings, to harbour mortals with you and discover to them our circumstance and yours? Else how should this man come at us?’ ‘O king’s daughter,’ answered the other, ‘this man is perfect in nobleness and purposeth thee no lewdness; but he loves thee, and women were made for men. Did he not love thee, he had not fallen sick and well-nigh given up the ghost on thine account.’ And she told her how Hassan had seen her bathing in the pool, with her attendants, and fallen in love with her, and none had pleased him but she, for the rest were all her handmaids.

When the princess heard this, she despaired of deliverance and Hassan’s sister fetched her a sumptuous dress, in which she clad her. Then she set before her meat and drink and ate with her and comforted her heart and appeased her fears. And she ceased not to speak her fair and caress her, soothing her with soft and pleasant words and instances and saying, ‘Have pity on him who saw thee once and became the victim of thy love:’ but she wept till daybreak, when her trouble subsided and she