Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 6.djvu/66

charming Slumbers: Thoſe Slumbers that hinder'd him from beholding the Brightneſs of your piercing Eyes, in Spight of all his Endeavours to oblige you to open them. He preſum'd to preſent you with his Ring as a Token of his Passion; and inExchange would be proud to receive yours, which he encloses in this Billet. If you will condescend to return it, as a reciprocal Assurance of your Love, he will reckon him self the happiest of all Lovers: If not, the Sen- tence of Death, which your Resusal brings him, will be re- ceiv'd with the more Resignation, because he dies for Love of you. He waits in your Antichamber for your An- swer.

When the Prince had finish'd his Billet, he made it up, and enclos'd it with the Ring in a little Packet, without letting the Eunuch see what he did. When he had feal'd it, he gave it to him: There, Friend, says he, carry it to your Mistress; if it does not cure her as soon as she reads it, and sees what is inclos'd in it, I give you Leave to tell every Bo- dy, that I am the most ignorant and impudent Astrologer that ever was, is, or ever will be.

Scheherazade was hinder'd from going on with her Sto- ry by the dawning Day; but the next Night she continu'd it, and spoke thus to the Sulan of the Indies.

The Two Hundred and Twenty First Night.

SIR, the Eunuch entering the Princess of China's Cham ber, gave her the Packet he receiv'd from Prince Ca- maralzaman. Madam, says he, the boldest Astrologer that ever liv'd, if I am not mistaken, is arrived here, and pre- tends, that on reading of this Letter, and seeing what is in it, you will be cur'd; I wish he may prove neither a Liar or Impostor.

The Princess Badcura took the Billet, and open'd it with a great deal of Indifference; but when the saw the Ring, the had not Patience to read it through. She rose hastdly, broke the Chain that held her down with struggling, ran and open'd the Door. She knew the Prince as soon as she saw him, and he her: They presently embrac'd each o- ther, with all imaginable Tenderneſs, and without being able to say a Word for Excess of Joy: They look'd on one another, admiring how they met again after their first In-