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basket, garnished with flowers and precious stones, into which I put a billet, that I was desirous she should receive when she awaked; and I entered her chamber, without being either seen or heard: Rosamond was asleep; and, after having placed the basket at her feet, I stop-ped a moment to consider her beauties.

I was about to retire, when chance directed my eyes to a table, which stood by her bed side: but what was my stupefaction, when I beheld, upon that table, the box, the talisman, which the sovereign of the genii had given me, to preserve me from the magic of the Palace of Truth.

I thought myself deceived, at first, by an accidental resemblance, for, searching in my pocket, I there found a box; I again recovered my breath took confidence, examined care-fully, and supposed that I found in my pocket was the true one. Taking up the other, how-ever, which lay on the table, for farther conviction, I could no longer doubt my misfortune. I perfectly saw, by comparing them together, that Rosamond's was the talisman, and that the other was only an imitation.

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