PRINCE OF PERSIA AND SCHEMSELNIHAR.

Designed and "He was extremely amazed to see him fallen down at his feet."_

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and came in out of breath, as one who knew not where she was. Come speedily, cries she, that I may let you out; all is in confusion here, and I fear this will be the last of our days. Ah! how would you have us go? replies Ebn Thaher, with a mournful voice: come near, I pray you, and see what a condition the prince of Persia is in. When the slave saw him in a swoon, she ran for water in all haste, and returned in an instant.

At last the prince of Persia, after they had thrown water on his face, recovered his spirits. Prince, says Ebn Thaher to him, we run the risk of being destroyed if we stay here any longer; let us therefore endeavour to save our lives. He was so feeble that he could not rise alone; Ebn Thaher and the confidant lent him their hands, and supported him on each side. They came to a little iron gate, which opened towards the Tigris, went out at it, and came to the side of a little canal, which had a communication with the river. The confidant clapped her hands, and immediately a little boat appeared, and came towards them, with one rower. Ali Ebn Becar and his comrade went aboard, and the trusty slave stayed at the side of the canal. As soon as the prince sat down in the boat, he stretched one hand towards the palace, and laid his hand upon his heart: Dear object of my soul, cries he, with a feeble voice, receive my faith with this hand, while I assure you with the other that my heart shall for ever preserve the fire with which it burns for you. In the mean time, the boatman rowed with all his might, and Schemselnihar's trusty slave accompanied the prince of Persia and Ebn Thaher, walking along the side of the canal until they came to the Tigris; and when she could go no further, she took her farewell of them, and returned.

The prince of Persia continued very feeble: Ebn Thaher comforted him, and exhorted him to take courage. Consider, says he to him, that when we are

landed, we have a great way to go before we come to my house; and I would not advise you to go to your lodgings, which are a great deal farther than mine, at this hour, and in this condition. At last they got out of the boat; but the prince had so little strength that he could not walk, which put Ebn Thaher into great perplexity. He remembered he had a friend in the neighbourhood, and carried the prince thither with great difficulty. His friend received them very cheerfully, and when he had made them sit down, he asked them where they had been so late. Ebn Thaher answered him, I was this evening with a man that owed me a considerable sum of money, and designed to go a long voyage: I was unwilling to lose time to find him, and by the way I met with this young nobleman whom you see, and to whom I am under a thousand obligations; for, knowing my debtor, he would needs do me the favour to go along with me. We had a great deal of trouble to bring the man to reason; besides, we went out of the way, and that is the reason we are so late. In our return home, this good lord, for whom I have all possible respect, was attacked by a sudden distemper, which made me take the liberty to call at your house, flattering myself that you would be pleased to give us quarters for this night. Ebn Thaher's friend took all this for truth, told them they were welcome, and offered the prince of Persia, whom he knew not, all the assistance he could desire; but Ebn Thaher spoke for the prince, and said that his distemper was of that nature as required nothing but rest. His friend understood by this that they desired to go to bed. Upon which he conducted them to an apartment, where he left them.

Though the prince of Persia slept, he had troublesome dreams, which represented Schemselnihar in a swoon at the caliph's feet, and increased his affliction. Ebn Thaher was very impatient to be at home, and

doubted not but his family was in great trouble, because he never used to lie abroad. He rose, and departed early in the morning, after he had taken leave of his friend, who rose at break of day to say his prayers. At last he came home; and the first thing the prince of Persia did, who had walked so far with much trouble, was to lie down upon a sofa, as weary as if he had gone a long journey. Being not in a condition to go home, Ebn Thaher ordered a chamber to be made ready for him, and sent to acquaint his friends with his condition, and where he was. In the mean time, he begged him to compose himself, to command in his house, and to order all things as he pleased. I thank you heartily for these obliging offers, says the prince of Persia; but, that I may not be anywise troublesome to you, I conjure you to deal with me as if I were not at your house. I would not stay one moment, if I thought my presence would incommode you in the least.

As soon as Ebn Thaher had time to recollect himself, he told his family all that passed at Schemselnihar's palace, and concluded by thanking God, who had delivered him from the danger he was in. The prince of Persia's principal domestics came to receive his orders at Ebn Thaher's house; and in a little time there arrived several of his friends, who had notice of his indisposition. Those friends passed the greatest part of the day with him; and though their conversation could not extinguish those sad ideas which were the cause of his trouble, yet it gave him some relief. He would have taken his leave of Ebn Thaher towards the evening, but this faithful friend found him still so weak, that he obliged him to stay till next day; and, in the mean time, to divert him, he gave him a concert of vocal and instrumental music in the evening: but this concert served only to put him in mind of the preceding night, and renewed his trouble, instead of assuaging it; so that next day his distemper seemed to