ood
share), to persuade her she loved her entirely. She then gave her
time to go to bed, and while she was undressing she went to her
devotions; her prayers were so long, that queen Haiatalnefous was
asleep before they were ended. She then left off, and lay down
softly by the new queen, without waking her, and was as much
afflicted at being forced to act a part which did not belong to
her, as in the loss of her dear Kummir al Zummaun, for whom she:
ceased not to sigh. She rose as soon as it was day, before
Haiatalnefous was awake; and, being dressed in her royal robes as
king, went to council.

King Armanos, as he had done the day before, came early to visit
the queen his daughter, whom he found in tears; he wanted nothing
more to be informed of the cause of her trouble. Provoked at the
contempt, as he thought, put upon his daughter, of which he could
not imagine the reason: "Daughter," said he, "have patience for
another night. I raised your husband to the throne, and can pull
him down again, and drive him thence with shame, unless he shews
you proper regard. His treatment of you has provoked me so much,
I cannot tell to what my resentment may transport me; the affront
is as great to me as to you."

It was late again before the princess Badoura came to queen
Haiatalnefous. She talked to her as she had done the night before, and
after the same manner went to her devotions, desiring the queen to go
to bed. But Haiatalnefous would not be so served; she held her back,
and obliged her to sit down. "Tell me, I beseech you," said she, "what
can you dislike in a princess of my youth and beauty, who not only
loves but adores you, and thinks herself the happiest of women in
having so amiable a prince for her husband. Any body but me would be
not merely offended but shocked by the slight, or rather the
unpardonable affront you have put upon me, and abandon you to your
evil destiny. However, though I did not love you so well as I do, yet
out of pure good-nature and humanity, which makes me pity the
misfortunes of persons for whom I am less concerned, I cannot forbear
telling you, that the king my father is enraged against you for your
behaviour towards me, and to-morrow will make you feel the weight of
his just anger, if you continue to neglect me as you have hitherto
done. Do not therefore drive to despair a princess, who,
notwithstanding all your ill usage, cannot help loving you."

This address embarrassed the princess Bad