that is felt for those whom we love is most certainly far
stronger than that which interests us for ourselves. His remonstrances
were in vain.

Learned men were assembled to the number of twelve; and in the
audience that was given them, the King was placed upon an elevated
throne, in his habits of ceremony. Damake was seated lower, opposite
to him, leaning upon a sofa, dressed with the greatest plainness, but
shining with every charm of youth and every gift of nature, surrounded
by the twelve sages, venerable by their extreme age and their flowing
beards, leaning upon a large table, round which they and she were
seated. The sages, who knew not with what design Nourgehan had
assembled them, were extremely astonished when he made known to them
the project of Damake. They looked upon the adversary who was
presented to them, and kept silence, not doubting that the King did it
with the design of showing them contempt. Nourgehan said to them,

"I perceive your thoughts, but I have given my royal promise, and it
is your duty to acquit me of it. Propose boldly the hardest questions
to this lady, who has engaged to resolve all the difficulties that
your great learning gives you the opportunity of proposing to her."

The first sage demanded, "What is that which takes the colour of
those who look upon it, which men cannot do without, and which of
itself has neither form nor colour?"

"It is the water," replied Damake.

The second said to her, "Can you, O miracle of sense and beauty, tell
me what is the thing which has neither door nor foundation, and which
is within filled with yellow and white?"

"It is an egg," said the beauteous maiden.

The third sage, after having considered a little, in hopes of
surpassing his brethren (for the learned men in the Mogul have a share
of self-love), said to her, "There is in a certain garden a tree; this
tree bears twelve branches, upon each branch there are thirty leaves,
and upon each leaf there are five fruits, of which three are in the
shade and two in the sun. What is this tree? and where is it to be
found?"

"This tree," returned Damake, "represents the year: the twelve
branches are the months, the thirty leaves the days, the five fruits
the five prayers, of which two are made by day and three by night."

The sage was amazed, and the courtiers, whose minds vary like the air,
and whose sentiments are changed by that which is less than nothing,
began to be inwardly persuaded of t