The Enchanted Horse

: The Arabian Nights Entertainments

It was the Feast of the New Year, the oldest and most splendid of all

the feasts in the Kingdom of Persia, and the day had been spent by the

king in the city of Schiraz, taking part in the magnificent spectacles

prepared by his subjects to do honour to the festival. The sun was

setting, and the monarch was about to give his court the signal to

retire, when suddenly an Indian appeared before his throne, leading a

horse
richly harnessed, and looking in every respect exactly like a

real one.



"Sire," said he, prostrating himself as he spoke, "although I make my

appearance so late before your Highness, I can confidently assure you

that none of the wonders you have seen during the day can be compared

to this horse, if you will deign to cast your eyes upon him."



"I see nothing in it," replied the king, "except a clever imitation of

a real one; and any skilled workman might do as much."



"Sire," returned the Indian, "it is not of his outward form that I

would speak, but of the use that I can make of him. I have only to

mount him, and to wish myself in some special place, and no matter how

distant it may be, in a very few moments I shall find myself there. It

is this, Sire, that makes the horse so marvellous, and if your Highness

will allow me, you can prove it for yourself."



The King of Persia, who was interested in every thing out of the

common, and had never before come across a horse with such qualities,

bade the Indian mount the animal, and show what he could do. In an

instant the man had vaulted on his back, and inquired where the monarch

wished to send him.



"Do you see that mountain?" asked the king, pointing to a huge mass

that towered into the sky about three leagues from Schiraz; "go and

bring me the leaf of a palm that grows at the foot."



The words were hardly out of the king's mouth when the Indian turned a

screw placed in the horse's neck, close to the saddle, and the animal

bounded like lightning up into the air, and was soon beyond the sight

even of the sharpest eyes. In a quarter of an hour the Indian was seen

returning, bearing in his hand the palm, and, guiding his horse to the

foot of the throne, he dismounted, and laid the leaf before the king.



Now the monarch had no sooner proved the astonishing speed of which the

horse was capable than he longed to possess it himself, and indeed, so

sure was he that the Indian would be quite ready to sell it, that he

looked upon it as his own already.



"I never guessed from his mere outside how valuable an animal he was,"

he remarked to the Indian, "and I am grateful to you for having shown

me my error," said he. "If you will sell it, name your own price."



"Sire," replied the Indian, "I never doubted that a sovereign so wise

and accomplished as your Highness would do justice to my horse, when he

once knew its power; and I even went so far as to think it probable

that you might wish to possess it. Greatly as I prize it, I will yield

it up to your Highness on one condition. The horse was not constructed

by me, but it was given me by the inventor, in exchange for my only

daughter, who made me take a solemn oath that I would never part with

it, except for some object of equal value."



"Name anything you like," cried the monarch, interrupting him. "My

kingdom is large, and filled with fair cities. You have only to choose

which you would prefer, to become its ruler to the end of your life."



"Sire," answered the Indian, to whom the proposal did not seem nearly

so generous as it appeared to the king, "I am most grateful to your

Highness for your princely offer, and beseech you not to be offended

with me if I say that I can only deliver up my horse in exchange for

the hand of the princess your daughter."



A shout of laughter burst from the courtiers as they heard these words,

and Prince Firouz Schah, the heir apparent, was filled with anger at

the Indian's presumption. The king, however, thought that it would not

cost him much to part from the princess in order to gain such a

delightful toy, and while he was hesitating as to his answer the prince

broke in.



"Sire," he said, "it is not possible that you can doubt for an instant

what reply you should give to such an insolent bargain. Consider what

you owe to yourself, and to the blood of your ancestors."



"My son," replied the king, "you speak nobly, but you do not realise

either the value of the horse, or the fact that if I reject the

proposal of the Indian, he will only make the same to some other

monarch, and I should be filled with despair at the thought that anyone

but myself should own this Seventh Wonder of the World. Of course I do

not say that I shall accept his conditions, and perhaps he may be

brought to reason, but meanwhile I should like you to examine the

horse, and, with the owner's permission, to make trial of its powers."



The Indian, who had overheard the king's speech, thought that he saw in

it signs of yielding to his proposal, so he joyfully agreed to the

monarch's wishes, and came forward to help the prince to mount the

horse, and show him how to guide it: but, before he had finished, the

young man turned the screw, and was soon out of sight.



They waited some time, expecting that every moment he might be seen

returning in the distance, but at length the Indian grew frightened,

and prostrating himself before the throne, he said to the king, "Sire,

your Highness must have noticed that the prince, in his impatience, did

not allow me to tell him what it was necessary to do in order to return

to the place from which he started. I implore you not to punish me for

what was not my fault, and not to visit on me any misfortune that may

occur."



"But why," cried the king in a burst of fear and anger, "why did you

not call him back when you saw him disappearing?"



"Sire," replied the Indian, "the rapidity of his movements took me so

by surprise that he was out of hearing before I recovered my speech.

But we must hope that he will perceive and turn a second screw, which

will have the effect of bringing the horse back to earth."



"But supposing he does!" answered the king, "what is to hinder the

horse from descending straight into the sea, or dashing him to pieces

on the rocks?"



"Have no fears, your Highness," said the Indian; "the horse has the

gift of passing over seas, and of carrying his rider wherever he wishes

to go."



"Well, your head shall answer for it," returned the monarch, "and if in

three months he is not safe back with me, or at any rate does not send

me news of his safety, your life shall pay the penalty." So saying, he

ordered his guards to seize the Indian and throw him into prison.



Meanwhile, Prince Firouz Schah had gone gaily up into the air, and for

the space of an hour continued to ascend higher and higher, till the

very mountains were not distinguishable from the plains. Then he began

to think it was time to come down, and took for granted that, in order

to do this, it was only needful to turn the screw the reverse way; but,

to his surprise and horror, he found that, turn as he might, he did not

make the smallest impression. He then remembered that he had never

waited to ask how he was to get back to earth again, and understood the

danger in which he stood. Luckily, he did not lose his head, and set

about examining the horse's neck with great care, till at last, to his

intense joy, he discovered a tiny little peg, much smaller than the

other, close to the right ear. This he turned, and found him-self

dropping to the earth, though more slowly than he had left it.



It was now dark, and as the prince could see nothing, he was obliged,

not without some feeling of disquiet, to allow the horse to direct his

own course, and midnight was already passed before Prince Firouz Schah

again touched the ground, faint and weary from his long ride, and from

the fact that he had eaten nothing since early morning.



The first thing he did on dismounting was to try to find out where he

was, and, as far as he could discover in the thick darkness, he found

himself on the terraced roof of a huge palace, with a balustrade of

marble running round. In one corner of the terrace stood a small door,

opening on to a staircase which led down into the palace.



Some people might have hesitated before exploring further, but not so

the prince. "I am doing no harm," he said, "and whoever the owner may

be, he will not touch me when he sees I am unarmed," and in dread of

making a false step, he went cautiously down the staircase. On a

landing, he noticed an open door, beyond which was a faintly lighted

hall.



Before entering, the prince paused and listened, but he heard nothing

except the sound of men snoring. By the light of a lantern suspended

from the roof, he perceived a row of black guards sleeping, each with a

naked sword lying by him, and he understood that the hall must form the

ante-room to the chamber of some queen or princess.



Standing quite still, Prince Firouz Schah looked about him, till his

eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, and he noticed a bright light

shining through a curtain in one corner. He then made his way softly

towards it, and, drawing aside its folds, passed into a magnificent

chamber full of sleeping women, all lying on low couches, except one,

who was on a sofa; and this one, he knew, must be the princess.



Gently stealing up to the side of her bed he looked at her, and saw

that she was more beautiful than any woman he had ever beheld. But,

fascinated though he was, he was well aware of the danger of his

position, as one cry of surprise would awake the guards, and cause his

certain death.



So sinking quietly on his knees, he took hold of the sleeve of the

princess and drew her arm lightly towards him. The princess opened her

eyes, and seeing before her a handsome well-dressed man, she remained

speechless with astonishment.



This favourable moment was seized by the prince, who bowing low while

he knelt, thus addressed her:



"You behold, madame, a prince in distress, son to the King of Persia,

who, owing to an adventure so strange that you will scarcely believe

it, finds himself here, a suppliant for your protection. But

yesterday, I was in my father's court, engaged in the celebration of

our most solemn festival; to-day, I am in an unknown land, in danger of

my life."



Now the princess whose mercy Prince Firouz Schah implored was the

eldest daughter of the King of Bengal, who was enjoying rest and change

in the palace her father had built her, at a little distance from the

capital. She listened kindly to what he had to say, and then answered:



"Prince, be not uneasy; hospitality and humanity are practised as

widely in Bengal as they are in Persia. The protection you ask will be

given you by all. You have my word for it." And as the prince was

about to thank her for her goodness, she added quickly, "However great

may be my curiosity to learn by what means you have travelled here so

speedily, I know that you must be faint for want of food, so I shall

give orders to my women to take you to one of my chambers, where you

will be provided with supper, and left to repose."



By this time the princess's attendants were all awake, and listening to

the conversation. At a sign from their mistress they rose, dressed

themselves hastily, and snatching up some of the tapers which lighted

the room, conducted the prince to a large and lofty room, where two of

the number prepared his bed, and the rest went down to the kitchen,

from which they soon returned with all sorts of dishes. Then, showing

him cupboards filled with dresses and linen, they quitted the room.



During their absence the Princess of Bengal, who had been greatly

struck by the beauty of the prince, tried in vain to go to sleep again.

It was of no use: she felt broad awake, and when her women entered the

room, she inquired eagerly if the prince had all he wanted, and what

they thought of him.



"Madame," they replied, "it is of course impossible for us to tell what

impression this young man has made on you. For ourselves, we think you

would be fortunate if the king your father should allow you to marry

anyone so amiable. Certainly there is no one in the Court of Bengal

who can be compared with him."



These flattering observations were by no means displeasing to the

princess, but as she did not wish to betray her own feelings she merely

said, "You are all a set of chatterboxes; go back to bed, and let me

sleep."



When she dressed the following morning, her maids noticed that,

contrary to her usual habit, the princess was very particular about her

toilette, and insisted on her hair being dressed two or three times

over. "For," she said to herself, "if my appearance was not

displeasing to the prince when he saw me in the condition I was, how

much more will he be struck with me when he beholds me with all my

charms."



Then she placed in her hair the largest and most brilliant diamonds she

could find, with a necklace, bracelets and girdle, all of precious

stones. And over her shoulders her ladies put a robe of the richest

stuff in all the Indies, that no one was allowed to wear except members

of the royal family. When she was fully dressed according to her

wishes, she sent to know if the Prince of Persia was awake and ready to

receive her, as she desired to present herself before him.



When the princess's messenger entered his room, Prince Firouz Schah was

in the act of leaving it, to inquire if he might be allowed to pay his

homage to her mistress: but on hearing the princess's wishes, he at

once gave way. "Her will is my law," he said, "I am only here to obey

her orders."



In a few moments the princess herself appeared, and after the usual

compliments had passed between them, the princess sat down on a sofa,

and began to explain to the prince her reasons for not giving him an

audience in her own apartments. "Had I done so," she said, "we might

have been interrupted at any hour by the chief of the eunuchs, who has

the right to enter whenever it pleases him, whereas this is forbidden

ground. I am all impatience to learn the wonderful accident which has

procured the pleasure of your arrival, and that is why I have come to

you here, where no one can intrude upon us. Begin then, I entreat you,

without delay."



So the prince began at the beginning, and told all the story of the

festival of Nedrouz held yearly in Persia, and of the splendid

spectacles celebrated in its honour. But when he came to the enchanted

horse, the princess declared that she could never have imagined

anything half so surprising. "Well then," continued the prince, "you

can easily understand how the King my father, who has a passion for all

curious things, was seized with a violent desire to possess this horse,

and asked the Indian what sum he would take for it.



"The man's answer was absolutely absurd, as you will agree, when I tell

you that it was nothing less than the hand of the princess my sister;

but though all the bystanders laughed and mocked, and I was beside

myself with rage, I saw to my despair that my father could not make up

his mind to treat the insolent proposal as it deserved. I tried to

argue with him, but in vain. He only begged me to examine the horse

with a view (as I quite understood) of making me more sensible of its

value."



"To please my father, I mounted the horse, and, without waiting for any

instructions from the Indian, turned the peg as I had seen him do. In

an instant I was soaring upwards, much quicker than an arrow could fly,

and I felt as if I must be getting so near the sky that I should soon

hit my head against it! I could see nothing beneath me, and for some

time was so confused that I did not even know in what direction I was

travelling. At last, when it was growing dark, I found another screw,

and on turning it, the horse began slowly to sink towards the earth. I

was forced to trust to chance, and to see what fate had in store, and

it was already past midnight when I found myself on the roof of this

palace. I crept down the little staircase, and made directly for a

light which I perceived through an open door--I peeped cautiously in,

and saw, as you will guess, the eunuchs lying asleep on the floor. I

knew the risks I ran, but my need was so great that I paid no attention

to them, and stole safely past your guards, to the curtain which

concealed your doorway.



"The rest, Princess, you know; and it only remains for me to thank you

for the kindness you have shown me, and to assure you of my gratitude.

By the law of nations, I am already your slave, and I have only my

heart, that is my own, to offer you. But what am I saying? My own?

Alas, madame, it was yours from the first moment I beheld you!"



The air with which he said these words could have left no doubt on the

mind of the princess as to the effect of her charms, and the blush

which mounted to her face only increased her beauty.



"Prince," returned she as soon as her confusion permitted her to speak,

"you have given me the greatest pleasure, and I have followed you

closely in all your adventures, and though you are positively sitting

before me, I even trembled at your danger in the upper regions of the

air! Let me say what a debt I owe to the chance that has led you to my

house; you could have entered none which would have given you a warmer

welcome. As to your being a slave, of course that is merely a joke,

and my reception must itself have assured you that you are as free here

as at your father's court. As to your heart," continued she in tones

of encouragement, "I am quite sure that must have been disposed of long

ago, to some princess who is well worthy of it, and I could not think

of being the cause of your unfaithfulness to her."



Prince Firouz Schah was about to protest that there was no lady with

any prior claims, but he was stopped by the entrance of one of the

princess's attendants, who announced that dinner was served, and, after

all, neither was sorry for the interruption.



Dinner was laid in a magnificent apartment, and the table was covered

with delicious fruits; while during the repast richly dressed girls

sang softly and sweetly to stringed instruments. After the prince and

princess had finished, they passed into a small room hung with blue and

gold, looking out into a garden stocked with flowers and arbutus trees,

quite different from any that were to be found in Persia.



"Princess," observed the young man, "till now I had always believed

that Persia could boast finer palaces and more lovely gardens than any

kingdom upon earth. But my eyes have been opened, and I begin to

perceive that, wherever there is a great king he will surround himself

with buildings worthy of him."



"Prince," replied the Princess of Bengal, "I have no idea what a

Persian palace is like, so I am unable to make comparisons. I do not

wish to depreciate my own palace, but I can assure you that it is very

poor beside that of the King my father, as you will agree when you have

been there to greet him, as I hope you will shortly do."



Now the princess hoped that, by bringing about a meeting between the

prince and her father, the King would be so struck with the young man's

distinguished air and fine manners, that he would offer him his

daughter to wife. But the reply of the Prince of Persia to her

suggestion was not quite what she wished.



"Madame," he said, "by taking advantage of your proposal to visit the

palace of the King of Bengal, I should satisfy not merely my curiosity,

but also the sentiments of respect with which I regard him. But,

Princess, I am persuaded that you will feel with me, that I cannot

possibly present myself before so great a sovereign without the

attendants suitable to my rank. He would think me an adventurer."



"If that is all," she answered, "you can get as many attendants here as

you please. There are plenty of Persian merchants, and as for money,

my treasury is always open to you. Take what you please."



Prince Firouz Schah guessed what prompted so much kindness on the part

of the princess, and was much touched by it. Still his passion, which

increased every moment, did not make him forget his duty. So he

replied without hesitation:



"I do not know, Princess, how to express my gratitude for your obliging

offer, which I would accept at once if it were not for the recollection

of all the uneasiness the King my father must be suffering on my

account. I should be unworthy indeed of all the love he showers upon

me, if I did not return to him at the first possible moment. For,

while I am enjoying the society of the most amiable of all princesses,

he is, I am quite convinced, plunged in the deepest grief, having lost

all hope of seeing me again. I am sure you will understand my

position, and will feel that to remain away one instant longer than is

necessary would not only be ungrateful on my part, but perhaps even a

crime, for how do I know if my absence may not break his heart?



"But," continued the prince, "having obeyed the voice of my conscience,

I shall count the moments when, with your gracious permission, I may

present myself before the King of Bengal, not as a wanderer, but as a

prince, to implore the favour of your hand. My father has always

informed me that in my marriage I shall be left quite free, but I am

persuaded that I have only to describe your generosity, for my wishes

to become his own."



The Princess of Bengal was too reasonable not to accept the explanation

offered by Prince Firouz Schah, but she was much disturbed at his

intention of departing at once, for she feared that, no sooner had he

left her, than the impression she had made on him would fade away. So

she made one more effort to keep him, and after assuring him that she

entirely approved of his anxiety to see his father, begged him to give

her a day or two more of his company.



In common politeness the prince could hardly refuse this request, and

the princess set about inventing every kind of amusement for him, and

succeeded so well that two months slipped by almost unnoticed, in

balls, spectacles and in hunting, of which, when unattended by danger,

the princess was passionately fond. But at last, one day, he declared

seriously that he could neglect his duty no longer, and entreated her

to put no further obstacles in his way, promising at the same time to

return, as soon as he could, with all the magnificence due both to her

and to himself.



"Princess," he added, "it may be that in your heart you class me with

those false lovers whose devotion cannot stand the test of absence. If

you do, you wrong me; and were it not for fear of offending you, I

would beseech you to come with me, for my life can only be happy when

passed with you. As for your reception at the Persian Court, it will

be as warm as your merits deserve; and as for what concerns the King of

Bengal, he must be much more indifferent to your welfare than you have

led me to believe if he does not give his consent to our marriage."



The princess could not find words in which to reply to the arguments of

the Prince of Persia, but her silence and her downcast eyes spoke for

her, and declared that she had no objection to accompanying him on his

travels.



The only difficulty that occurred to her was that Prince Firouz Schah

did not know how to manage the horse, and she dreaded lest they might

find themselves in the same plight as before. But the prince soothed

her fears so successfully, that she soon had no other thought than to

arrange for their flight so secretly, that no one in the palace should

suspect it.



This was done, and early the following morning, when the whole palace

was wrapped in sleep, she stole up on to the roof, where the prince was

already awaiting her, with his horse's head towards Persia. He mounted

first and helped the princess up behind; then, when she was firmly

seated, with her hands holding tightly to his belt, he touched the

screw, and the horse began to leave the earth quickly behind him.



He travelled with his accustomed speed, and Prince Firouz Schah guided

him so well that in two hours and a half from the time of starting, he

saw the capital of Persia lying beneath him. He determined to alight

neither in the great square from which he had started, nor in the

Sultan's palace, but in a country house at a little distance from the

town. Here he showed the princess a beautiful suite of rooms, and

begged her to rest, while he informed his father of their arrival, and

prepared a public reception worthy of her rank. Then he ordered a

horse to be saddled, and set out.



All the way through the streets he was welcomed with shouts of joy by

the people, who had long lost all hope of seeing him again. On

reaching the palace, he found the Sultan surrounded by his ministers,

all clad in the deepest mourning, and his father almost went out of his

mind with surprise and delight at the mere sound of his son's voice.

When he had calmed down a little, he begged the prince to relate his

adventures.



The prince at once seized the opening thus given him, and told the

whole story of his treatment by the Princess of Bengal, not even

concealing the fact that she had fallen in love with him. "And, Sire,"

ended the prince, "having given my royal word that you would not refuse

your consent to our marriage, I persuaded her to return with me on the

Indian's horse. I have left her in one of your Highness's country

houses, where she is waiting anxiously to be assured that I have not

promised in vain."



As he said this the prince was about to throw himself at the feet of

the Sultan, but his father prevented him, and embracing him again, said

eagerly:



"My son, not only do I gladly consent to your marriage with the

Princess of Bengal, but I will hasten to pay my respects to her, and to

thank her in my own person for the benefits she has conferred on you.

I will then bring her back with me, and make all arrangements for the

wedding to be celebrated to-day."



So the Sultan gave orders that the habits of mourning worn by the

people should be thrown off and that there should be a concert of

drums, trumpets and cymbals. Also that the Indian should be taken from

prison, and brought before him.



His commands were obeyed, and the Indian was led into his presence,

surrounded by guards. "I have kept you locked up," said the Sultan,

"so that in case my son was lost, your life should pay the penalty. He

has now returned; so take your horse, and begone for ever."



The Indian hastily quitted the presence of the Sultan, and when he was

outside, he inquired of the man who had taken him out of prison where

the prince had really been all this time, and what he had been doing.

They told him the whole story, and how the Princess of Bengal was even

then awaiting in the country palace the consent of the Sultan, which at

once put into the Indian's head a plan of revenge for the treatment he

had experienced. Going straight to the country house, he informed the

doorkeeper who was left in charge that he had been sent by the Sultan

and by the Prince of Persia to fetch the princess on the enchanted

horse, and to bring her to the palace.



The doorkeeper knew the Indian by sight, and was of course aware that

nearly three months before he had been thrown into prison by the

Sultan; and seeing him at liberty, the man took for granted that he was

speaking the truth, and made no difficulty about leading him before the

Princess of Bengal; while on her side, hearing that he had come from

the prince, the lady gladly consented to do what he wished.



The Indian, delighted with the success of his scheme, mounted the

horse, assisted the princess to mount behind him, and turned the peg at

the very moment that the prince was leaving the palace in Schiraz for

the country house, followed closely by the Sultan and all the court.

Knowing this, the Indian deliberately steered the horse right above the

city, in order that his revenge for his unjust imprisonment might be

all the quicker and sweeter.



When the Sultan of Persia saw the horse and its riders, he stopped

short with astonishment and horror, and broke out into oaths and

curses, which the Indian heard quite unmoved, knowing that he was

perfectly safe from pursuit. But mortified and furious as the Sultan

was, his feelings were nothing to those of Prince Firouz Schah, when he

saw the object of his passionate devotion being borne rapidly away.

And while he was struck speechless with grief and remorse at not having

guarded her better, she vanished swiftly out of his sight. What was he

to do? Should he follow his father into the palace, and there give

reins to his despair? Both his love and his courage alike forbade it;

and he continued his way to the palace.



The sight of the prince showed the doorkeeper of what folly he had been

guilty, and flinging himself at his master's feet, implored his pardon.

"Rise," said the prince, "I am the cause of this misfortune, and not

you. Go and find me the dress of a dervish, but beware of saying it is

for me."



At a short distance from the country house, a convent of dervishes was

situated, and the superior, or scheih, was the doorkeeper's friend. So

by means of a false story made up on the spur of the moment, it was

easy enough to get hold of a dervish's dress, which the prince at once

put on, instead of his own. Disguised like this and concealing about

him a box of pearls and diamonds he had intended as a present to the

princess, he left the house at nightfall, uncertain where he should go,

but firmly resolved not to return without her.



Meanwhile the Indian had turned the horse in such a direction that,

before many hours had passed, it had entered a wood close to the

capital of the kingdom of Cashmere. Feeling very hungry, and supposing

that the princess also might be in want of food, he brought his steed

down to the earth, and left the princess in a shady place, on the banks

of a clear stream.



At first, when the princess had found herself alone, the idea had

occurred to her of trying to escape and hide herself. But as she had

eaten scarcely anything since she had left Bengal, she felt she was too

weak to venture far, and was obliged to abandon her design. On the

return of the Indian with meats of various kinds, she began to eat

voraciously, and soon had regained sufficient courage to reply with

spirit to his insolent remarks. Goaded by his threats she sprang to

her feet, calling loudly for help, and luckily her cries were heard by

a troop of horsemen, who rode up to inquire what was the matter.



Now the leader of these horsemen was the Sultan of Cashmere, returning

from the chase, and he instantly turned to the Indian to inquire who he

was, and whom he had with him. The Indian rudely answered that it was

his wife, and there was no occasion for anyone else to interfere

between them.



The princess, who, of course, was ignorant of the rank of her

deliverer, denied altogether the Indian's story. "My lord," she cried,

"whoever you may be, put no faith in this impostor. He is an

abominable magician, who has this day torn me from the Prince of

Persia, my destined husband, and has brought me here on this enchanted

horse." She would have continued, but her tears choked her, and the

Sultan of Cashmere, convinced by her beauty and her distinguished air

of the truth of her tale, ordered his followers to cut off the Indian's

head, which was done immediately.



But rescued though she was from one peril, it seemed as if she had only

fallen into another. The Sultan commanded a horse to be given her, and

conducted her to his own palace, where he led her to a beautiful

apartment, and selected female slaves to wait on her, and eunuchs to be

her guard. Then, without allowing her time to thank him for all he had

done, he bade her repose, saying she should tell him her adventures on

the following day.



The princess fell asleep, flattering herself that she had only to

relate her story for the Sultan to be touched by compassion, and to

restore her to the prince without delay. But a few hours were to

undeceive her.



When the King of Cashmere had quitted her presence the evening before,

he had resolved that the sun should not set again without the princess

becoming his wife, and at daybreak proclamation of his intention was

made throughout the town, by the sound of drums, trumpets, cymbals, and

other instruments calculated to fill the heart with joy. The Princess

of Bengal was early awakened by the noise, but she did not for one

moment imagine that it had anything to do with her, till the Sultan,

arriving as soon as she was dressed to inquire after her health,

informed her that the trumpet blasts she heard were part of the solemn

marriage ceremonies, for which he begged her to prepare. This

unexpected announcement caused the princess such terror that she sank

down in a dead faint.



The slaves that were in waiting ran to her aid, and the Sultan himself

did his best to bring her back to consciousness, but for a long while

it was all to no purpose. At length her senses began slowly to come

back to her, and then, rather than break faith with the Prince of

Persia by consenting to such a marriage, she determined to feign

madness. So she began by saying all sorts of absurdities, and using

all kinds of strange gestures, while the Sultan stood watching her with

sorrow and surprise. But as this sudden seizure showed no sign of

abating, he left her to her women, ordering them to take the greatest

care of her. Still, as the day went on, the malady seemed to become

worse, and by night it was almost violent.



Days passed in this manner, till at last the Sultan of Cashmere decided

to summon all the doctors of his court to consult together over her sad

state. Their answer was that madness is of so many different kinds

that it was impossible to give an opinion on the case without seeing

the princess, so the Sultan gave orders that they were to be introduced

into her chamber, one by one, every man according to his rank.



This decision had been foreseen by the princess, who knew quite well

that if once she allowed the physicians to feel her pulse, the most

ignorant of them would discover that she was in perfectly good health,

and that her madness was feigned, so as each man approached, she broke

out into such violent paroxysms, that not one dared to lay a finger on

her. A few, who pretended to be cleverer than the rest, declared that

they could diagnose sick people only from sight, ordered her certain

potions, which she made no difficulty about taking, as she was

persuaded they were all harmless.



When the Sultan of Cashmere saw that the court doctors could do nothing

towards curing the princess, he called in those of the city, who fared

no better. Then he had recourse to the most celebrated physicians in

the other large towns, but finding that the task was beyond their

science, he finally sent messengers into the other neighbouring states,

with a memorandum containing full particulars of the princess's

madness, offering at the same time to pay the expenses of any physician

who would come and see for himself, and a handsome reward to the one

who should cure her. In answer to this proclamation many foreign

professors flocked into Cashmere, but they naturally were not more

successful than the rest had been, as the cure depended neither on them

nor their skill, but only on the princess herself.



It was during this time that Prince Firouz Schah, wandering sadly and

hopelessly from place to place, arrived in a large city of India, where

he heard a great deal of talk about the Princess of Bengal who had gone

out of her senses, on the very day that she was to have been married to

the Sultan of Cashmere. This was quite enough to induce him to take

the road to Cashmere, and to inquire at the first inn at which he

lodged in the capital the full particulars of the story. When he knew

that he had at last found the princess whom he had so long lost, he set

about devising a plan for her rescue.



The first thing he did was to procure a doctor's robe, so that his

dress, added to the long beard he had allowed to grow on his travels,

might unmistakably proclaim his profession. He then lost no time in

going to the palace, where he obtained an audience of the chief usher,

and while apologising for his boldness in presuming to think that he

could cure the princess, where so many others had failed, declared that

he had the secret of certain remedies, which had hitherto never failed

of their effect.



The chief usher assured him that he was heartily welcome, and that the

Sultan would receive him with pleasure; and in case of success, he

would gain a magnificent reward.



When the Prince of Persia, in the disguise of a physician, was brought

before him, the Sultan wasted no time in talking, beyond remarking that

the mere sight of a doctor threw the princess into transports of rage.

He then led the prince up to a room under the roof, which had an

opening through which he might observe the princess, without himself

being seen.



The prince looked, and beheld the princess reclining on a sofa with

tears in her eyes, singing softly to herself a song bewailing her sad

destiny, which had deprived her, perhaps for ever, of a being she so

tenderly loved. The young man's heart beat fast as he listened, for he

needed no further proof that her madness was feigned, and that it was

love of him which had caused her to resort to this species of trick.

He softly left his hiding-place, and returned to the Sultan, to whom he

reported that he was sure from certain signs that the princess's malady

was not incurable, but that he must see her and speak with her alone.



The Sultan made no difficulty in consenting to this, and commanded that

he should be ushered in to the princess's apartment. The moment she

caught sight of his physician's robe, she sprang from her seat in a

fury, and heaped insults upon him. The prince took no notice of her

behaviour, and approaching quite close, so that his words might be

heard by her alone, he said in a low whisper, "Look at me, princess,

and you will see that I am no doctor, but the Prince of Persia, who has

come to set you free."



At the sound of his voice, the Princess of Bengal suddenly grew calm,

and an expression of joy overspread her face, such as only comes when

what we wish for most and expect the least suddenly happens to us. For

some time she was too enchanted to speak, and Prince Firouz Schah took

advantage of her silence to explain to her all that had occurred, his

despair at watching her disappear before his very eyes, the oath he had

sworn to follow her over the world, and his rapture at finally

discovering her in the palace at Cashmere. When he had finished, he

begged in his turn that the princess would tell him how she had come

there, so that he might the better devise some means of rescuing her

from the tyranny of the Sultan.



It needed but a few words from the princess to make him acquainted with

the whole situation, and how she had been forced to play the part of a

mad woman in order to escape from a marriage with the Sultan, who had

not had sufficient politeness even to ask her consent. If necessary,

she added, she had resolved to die sooner than permit herself to be

forced into such a union, and break faith with a prince whom she loved.



The prince then inquired if she knew what had become of the enchanted

horse since the Indian's death, but the princess could only reply that

she had heard nothing about it. Still she did not suppose that the

horse could have been forgotten by the Sultan, after all she had told

him of its value.



To this the prince agreed, and they consulted together over a plan by

which she might be able to make her escape and return with him into

Persia. And as the first step, she was to dress herself with care, and

receive the Sultan with civility when he visited her next morning.



The Sultan was transported with delight on learning the result of the

interview, and his opinion of the doctor's skill was raised still

higher when, on the following day, the princess behaved towards him in

such a way as to persuade him that her complete cure would not be long

delayed. However he contented himself with assuring her how happy he

was to see her health so much improved, and exhorted her to make every

use of so clever a physician, and to repose entire confidence in him.

Then he retired, without awaiting any reply from the princess.



The Prince of Persia left the room at the same time, and asked if he

might be allowed humbly to inquire by what means the Princess of Bengal

had reached Cashmere, which was so far distant from her father's

kingdom, and how she came to be there alone. The Sultan thought the

question very natural, and told him the same story that the Princess of

Bengal had done, adding that he had ordered the enchanted horse to be

taken to his treasury as a curiosity, though he was quite ignorant how

it could be used.



"Sire," replied the physician, "your Highness's tale has supplied me

with the clue I needed to complete the recovery of the princess.

During her voyage hither on an enchanted horse, a portion of its

enchantment has by some means been communicated to her person, and it

can only be dissipated by certain perfumes of which I possess the

secret. If your Highness will deign to consent, and to give the court

and the people one of the most astonishing spectacles they have ever

witnessed, command the horse to be brought into the big square outside

the palace, and leave the rest to me. I promise that in a very few

moments, in presence of all the assembled multitude, you shall see the

princess as healthy both in mind and body as ever she was in her life.

And in order to make the spectacle as impressive as possible, I would

suggest that she should be richly dressed and covered with the noblest

jewels of the crown."



The Sultan readily agreed to all that the prince proposed, and the

following morning he desired that the enchanted horse should be taken

from the treasury, and brought into the great square of the palace.

Soon the rumour began to spread through the town, that something

extraordinary was about to happen, and such a crowd began to collect

that the guards had to be called out to keep order, and to make a way

for the enchanted horse.



When all was ready, the Sultan appeared, and took his place on a

platform, surrounded by the chief nobles and officers of his court.

When they were seated, the Princess of Bengal was seen leaving the

palace, accompanied by the ladies who had been assigned to her by the

Sultan. She slowly approached the enchanted horse, and with the help

of her ladies, she mounted on its back. Directly she was in the

saddle, with her feet in the stirrups and the bridle in her hand, the

physician placed around the horse some large braziers full of burning

coals, into each of which he threw a perfume composed of all sorts of

delicious scents. Then he crossed his hands over his breast, and with

lowered eyes walked three times round the horse, muttering the while

certain words. Soon there arose from the burning braziers a thick

smoke which almost concealed both the horse and princess, and this was

the moment for which he had been waiting. Springing lightly up behind

the lady, he leaned forward and turned the peg, and as the horse darted

up into the air, he cried aloud so that his words were heard by all

present, "Sultan of Cashmere, when you wish to marry princesses who

have sought your protection, learn first to gain their consent."



It was in this way that the Prince of Persia rescued the Princess of

Bengal, and returned with her to Persia, where they descended this time

before the palace of the King himself. The marriage was only delayed

just long enough to make the ceremony as brilliant as possible, and, as

soon as the rejoicings were over, an ambassador was sent to the King of

Bengal, to inform him of what had passed, and to ask his approbation of

the alliance between the two countries, which he heartily gave.



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