has no other merit than beauty, in my opinion, is
of little value."

"Perhaps," returned Nourgehan, "the difference of our religions is an
obstacle to my happiness?"

"No, my lord, I am a Mussulman," resumed Damake. "Can you imagine I
could submit to the ideas that are given us of the Grand Lama? Can we
believe that a man is immortal? The artifice that is made use of to
persuade us of it is too gross. In one word, my eyes are too much
enlightened for me to hesitate between the ideas inculcated by these
priests, and those by which the divinity of God is preached by his
most sacred Prophet. No, my lord," continued she, "I am sensible of
the risk I shall run by your goodness to me. Time causes the
nightingale to perish and the rose to fade. The moon shines during the
night; but its lustre fades when the day approaches. Can I expect,
therefore, that time should spare me? Yet, notwithstanding these
reflections, I confess, my lord, I should be flattered with the
thought of pleasing a man whose virtues I esteem above his greatness.
But I should wish to please him by other qualities: I should wish to
have rendered myself worthy of him by services so considerable, that
even a marriage thus unsuitable, far from exposing him to reproaches,
should only serve to make his choice more applauded."

Nourgehan, charmed at finding such uncommon sense and such delicate
sentiments in an object whose figure alone would have rendered her
amiable, admired her virtue, gave her his royal promise never to
constrain her inclinations, and resolved never to depart from her. He
sent a numerous train of slaves and camels to the beauteous Damake,
who followed him with all her family. She would never have consented
to this step if she had been obliged to abandon her family, to whom
she was fondly attached. The King saw her every day, and could not
exist a moment without wishing to see her, or without admiring her
when he did see her. In the meantime the discourses of the Court and
of the populace reached the ears of Damake. She knew the evil opinion
they had of her. To repair this wrong she conjured Nourgehan to
assemble all the learned men of his kingdom, that she might answer
their questions, and afterwards propose some to them. Nourgehan, who
dreaded lest a person so young as Damake should expose herself too
hastily, and return with confusion from such a dispute, used his
utmost efforts to dissuade her from her request; for the fear and
concern