e and modesty was visible
in her countenance. Nourgehan did homage to so many charms, and caused
a place in his harem to be proposed to her, but she refused it. Love
but too often causes the greatest change in the worthiest characters.
The Prince, so wise, and till then so moderate, led away by his
passion, joined menaces to his entreaties; he even went so far as to
threaten that he would bring a formidable army thither to obtain a
beauty whose refusals did not permit him to hope to win her otherwise.
He made this rash speech to Damake alone; for if the Tartars, who are
a people most jealous of their liberty, had had the least knowledge of
it, war would have been that moment declared. But Damake answered him
with the utmost sweetness, without showing the least fear, and without
losing that respect which she owed to a Sovereign; and it was with the
gentle and yet resolved tone that courage and truth always inspire,
that she related this little history to him:

[Footnote 10: Joy of the heart.]

"One of the great Lamas," said she, "of whose supreme authority in
this country you are not ignorant, fell in love, in this very place,
with a maiden of my tribe. She not only refused all that he offered to
her, but she would not accept the proposal he made to marry her. The
love she felt for a musician was the sole cause of her refusal, which
she confessed to the Lama, with a hope of appearing unworthy of his
attachment. But that Prince--for they are looked upon as
such--distracted with anger and sorrow, caused his unworthy rival to
be put to death, and under the pretext of her being agreeable to the
Grand Lama, it was not difficult to have her carried off. For you are
sensible, my lord, that in this country every one trembles at the very
name of him, whom we look upon as a god. But the Lama enjoyed not
much satisfaction from his cruelty and injustice; for after she had
promised to marry him, in order to obtain a greater liberty, she
precipitated herself from the top of a rock, which can be perceived
from hence, and which is always shown in the country as a proof of the
constancy and resolution of which the Tartar virgins are capable. It
is not," continued Damake, "love for another that makes me refuse the
offers of your Majesty. My heart to this hour is free; but, my lord,
learn to know it thoroughly. It is noble, and perhaps worthy of the
favour you condescend to honour me with. My weak charms have seduced
you; but a woman who