is detested merchant."

"Then," said Bennaskar, who before was awed by the presence of the
genius Macoma, "Hemjunah is my own, and my faithful Ulin has not
deceived me."

At these words, exerting all his strength, the villain seized me; but
his triumph was short, for the genius, advancing, immediately touched
him with her wand, and said,

"Wretched slave of iniquity! though I am not permitted to rescue the
Princess, yet I have power over thee, base tool of sin! therefore I
ordain, that whenever you look upon the Princess, you shall deprive
her of sensation."

"Then," said Bennaskar, rising and turning from me, "I will at present
disappoint thy power till I receive my commands from the mouth of
Ulin, the mistress of my fate."

"Ah!" cried the enchantress Ulin, who that moment entered the vaulted
chamber from the closet, which, my Prince, you have heard described by
Mahoud, "what hast thou done, thou enemy of our race? Accursed and
fatal neglect, that I had not at first secured Bennaskar from thy
power! But since the inexorable word is gone forth, I will add to thy
sentence. Here," continued she, stamping with her foot, and an ugly
dwarf arose through a trap-door in the chamber, "Nego, be it thy
business to attend my servant Bennaskar, and whenever thou seest that
female deprived of sensation, do you bury her in the earth beneath
this chamber. And, Bennaskar," continued the enchantress, "do you take
this phial, and whenever you want to converse with this stubborn
female, let one of your slaves, whom you can trust, pour part of the
liquor into her mouth, and she shall recover: only retire yourself
into the closet, that you be not seen of her, at least till she
consent to your will, for then the enchantments of Macoma shall no
longer prevail against you."

"The enchantments," said Macoma, "O wretched Ulin, are not yet
complete! there is yet a moment left, and both our power over Hemjunah
and Bennaskar will be at an end. Therefore thus shall it be: although
Bennaskar is possessed of the Princess, yet shall these apartments be
hidden from the sight of all men, except on that day when thy evil
race prevails. On the full of the moon only shall Bennaskar be able to
explore these rooms. And fear not, amiable Hemjunah," said the genius,
addressing herself to me, "for neither force nor enchantment shall
work your ruin without your own consent; and although Mahomet,
displeased at your late imprudence, for a time permits this