infant in her arms. Notwithstanding the pomp of
her train, and all the grandeur of royalty, she caressed me, young as
I was, and after some moments' stay said to my mother,

"'This child whom you see in my arms, and who is mine, is by fate
obliged to taste the milk of a mortal, it being a command laid upon us
by Allah; and I cannot find one more modest, more wise, nor whose milk
is purer than thine. Do me the pleasure, therefore, of nursing my
infant for a few moments.'

"My mother consented with pleasure; and the Queen, in return for her
complaisance, said to her,

"'Whenever you have any sorrow or any desire, come to the foot of a
palm-tree, cut a leaf off it, burn it, and call for me--I am named the
Peri Malikatada--and I will haste immediately to your assistance. I
grant the same power to your little girl when she attains the age of
reason.'

"My mother never importuned the Peri except for the care of my
education; and I, my lord, before I knew you, had never addressed
myself to her, for I knew no desire, nor had my heart formed any wish.
From that time I fear I have fatigued her, so many troubles and
inquietudes have seized upon my soul. It was she, as you will judge,
who made Diafer known to me, who dictated to me the answers I gave the
sages, who informed me of the talismans, and delivered this one to me.
It was she, likewise, who caused the Governor of Dioul to be arrested,
and who demands his life of you in return for the golden fish which I
have given you from him; she also would have given me----" she paused.

"Go on, beauteous Damake," said Nourgehan, with tenderness; "if you
love me, can you conceal anything from me?"

"She would have given me," resumed Damake, "a talisman of her
composition that should force you always to love me, but I have
refused it. Can there be any happy talisman in love but the heart?"

Nourgehan, struck with so many virtues, and such proofs of her
attachment to him, would no longer defer his happiness. He immediately
caused his whole Court, and all the grandees of his kingdom, to be
assembled.

"I may boast with reason," said he to them, "that I am the happiest
Prince upon earth: I possess a bracelet which preserves me from all
fear of poison; all the treasures of the sea are mine by the means of
a fish, which at my command will fetch them from the bottom of the
waves; Damake has given me this poniard, which renders whoever I
please invisible. The proof that I can make be