ry being no longer able to refuse, related
to him the particulars of the blacks in disguise, of the
ungoverned passion of the sultaness, and her ladies; nor did he
forget Masoud. After having been witness to these infamous
actions, he continued, "I believed all women to be naturally
lewd; and that they could not resist their inclination. Being of
this opinion, it seemed to me to be in men an unaccountable
weakness to place any confidence in their fidelity. This
reflection brought on many others; and in short, I thought the
best thing I could do was to make myself easy. It cost me some
pains indeed, but at last I grew reconciled; and if you will take
my advice, you will follow my example."

Though the advice was good, the sultan could not approve of it, but
fell into a rage. "What!" said he, "is the sultaness of the Indies
capable of prostituting herself in so base a manner! No, brother, I
cannot believe what you state unless I beheld it with my own eyes.
Yours must needs have deceived you; the matter is so important that I
must be satisfied of it myself." "Dear brother," answered
Shaw-zummaun, "that you may without much difficulty. Appoint another
hunting-match, and when we are out of town with your court and mine,
we will rest under our tents, and at night let you and I return
unattended to my apartments. I am certain the next day you will see a
repetition of the scene." The sultan approving the stratagem,
immediately appointed another hunting-match. And that same day the
tents were pitched at the place appointed.

The next day the two princes set out with all their retinue; they
arrived at the place of encampment, and stayed there till night.
Shier-ear then called his grand vizier, and, without acquainting
him with his design, commanded him during his absence to suffer
no person to quit the camp on any presence whatever. As soon as
he had given this order, the king of Grand Tartary and he took
horse, passed through the camp incognito, returned to the city,
and went to Shaw-zummaun's apartment. They had scarcely placed
themselves in the window whence the king of Tartary had beheld
the scene of the disguised blacks, when the secret gate opened,
the sultaness and her ladies entered the garden with the blacks,
and she having called to Masoud, the sultan saw more than enough
fully to convince him of his dishonour and misfortune.

"Oh heavens!" he exclaimed, "what indignity! What horror! Can the
wife of a sovereign be