ea of my charming princess performing the duties
of a menial, and I expressed my feelings to her in a low tone of voice.
She shook her head, as if to rebuke me, and I said no more. When we had
finished the banquet, his majesty ordered the water of the golden
fountain to be produced, which it immediately was, by those in
attendance, and extolling its virtues, desired a cup to be filled for
each guest, which was handed to him by the attendant ladies.

As the princess presented the cup, she contrived to press one of her
fingers against mine, before she removed them, to remind me of my
promise. I drank but sparingly, but the effects were instantaneous--my
spirits rose buoyant, and I felt a sort of intellectual intoxication. At
a sign made by the king, the ladies now took their seats beside us, and
by their attentions and caresses, increased the desire for the water,
which they supplied in abundance. I must confess that at each sip that I
took, the princess, who had taken her seat by me, appeared so much more
charming in my eyes, that notwithstanding the repeated pressure of her
foot to remind me of my promise, I could not resist the impulse to
drink.

The boatswain and one of the seamen were very drunken characters, and
had very soon poured down so much of the water, that they dropped off
their stools on the marble pavement, without sense or motion. This
recalled me to my senses, which were rapidly stealing away; I rose from
my seat, and pointing out to my companions that it would ill become them
to intoxicate themselves in the presence of his majesty, requested that
they would drink no more, but leave the table before they were
incapacitated from paying the proper attentions to their fair
conductors. The last argument had more weight than the first, and
notwithstanding the remonstrances of the king, who showed the greatest
anxiety that we should remain, the party rose from the table and
separated. The two men who were intoxicated were carried away by some
of the courtiers, and the king with marks of displeasure quitted the
hall. I was again left alone with my charming princess, and inflamed
with the exhilarating draught which I had taken, I threw myself at her
feet, declaring my violent passion, and my wish never to quit the
island, if I could be blessed with a reciprocal feeling on her part. I
perceived that I had made an impression, and following up my success, I
protested and she listened, until the evening closed in a