"

"I have given sufficient reasons," replied my mother, "to engage your
compliance with your father's desire, and these will influence you, if
prudence and wisdom are the motives of your choice; and if you want
prudence, it is fit that those who are able to instruct you should
also guide and direct your actions."

At these words, Chederazade left me bathed in tears and trembling at
my fate.

My nurse Eloubrou was witness to the hard command my mother had
imposed upon me, and endeavoured to comfort me in my affliction; but
her words were as the wind on the surface of the rock; and to add to
my griefs, in a few minutes after, the chief of the eunuchs entered,
and bade me prepare to receive the Sultan my father.

The Sultan of Cassimir entering my apartment, I fell at his feet.

"Hemjunah," said he, "the Prince of Georgia is my friend, and I intend
to give my daughter to his arms."

Shocked at these successive declarations of my fate, which I had no
reason to suspect the day before, I fainted away, and when I
recovered, found myself on a sofa, with Eloubrou at my feet.

"My lovely Princess," said Eloubrou, "how little am I able to see you
thus! and yet I fear the news I have to impart to you may reduce you
to your former condition."

"Alas," said I, "nurse, what new evil has befallen me? What worse can
happen than my marriage with a stranger?"

"Princess," replied Eloubrou, "the Prince is to see you this night:
nay, the ceremonies are preparing, the changes of vestment, the
dessert, and the choral bands."

"Ah," said I, "cruel Eloubrou! what hast thou said? Am I to be
sacrificed this night to my father's policy? Am I to be given as a
fee to the plunderer of cities?--for such they are whose profession is
arms."

"No, Princess," said a young female slave who attended on Eloubrou;
"trust but to me, and the Prince of Georgia shall in vain seek the
honour of your alliance."

The faithful Eloubrou shrieked at the words of the female slave, and
endeavoured to clap her hands and bring the chief of the eunuchs to
her assistance; but the female slave waved her left hand, and Eloubrou
and the rest of the slaves stood motionless before her.

"Most lovely Princess," said she, "I am the friend of the distressed,
and love to prevent the severe and ill-natured authority of parents:
give me your hand, and I will deliver you from that monster, the
Prince of Georgia."

"What!" answered I, "shall I trust to a stranger, who