s could not last. Doubt succeeded to the
empire of hope, when reflection pointed out to them, that out of three
millions of very eligible youths, only one could be made happy. But when
the counsellors are so many, the decision is but slow; and so numerous
were the meetings, the canvassings, the debates, the discussions, the
harangues, and the variety of objections raised by the grandees of the
country, that at the age of eighteen, the beauteous bird of paradise,
still unmated, warbled her virgin strain in the loneliness of the royal
groves.

* * * * *

"But why," interrupted the pacha, "why did they not marry her, when
there were three millions of young men ready to take her? I can't
understand the cause of six years' delay."

* * * * *

The reason, most sublime, was, that the grandees of Souffra were not
endowed with your resplendent wisdom, or the beautiful Babe-bi-bobu had
not so long languished for a husband. All this delay was produced by
doubt, which the poets truly declare to be the father of delay. It was a
doubt which arose in the mind of one of the Brahmins, who, when a doubt
arose in his mind, would mumble it over and over, but never masticate,
swallow, or digest it; and thus was the preservation of the royal line
endangered. For years had the aspirants for regal dignity, and more than
regal beauty, hovered round the court, each with his mandolin on his
arm, and a huge packet of love-sonnets borne behind him by a slave, and
yet all was doubt; and the beautiful Princess Babe-bi-bobu remained
unmarried.

* * * * *

"I doubt whether we shall ever come to the doubt," interrupted the pacha
impatiently, "or the princess to a husband."

* * * * *

The doubt shall now be laid at your excellency's feet. It was, as to the
exact meaning of the words, without _scar_ or _blemish_, and whether
_moles_ were to be considered as _scars_ or _blemishes_. The Brahmin was
of opinion that moles _were_ blemishes, and many others agreed with him;
that is, all those who had no moles on their persons were of his
opinion; while, on the other hand, those who were favoured by nature
with those distinguishing marks, declared that so far from their _being_
scars or blemishes, they must be considered as additional beauties
granted by heaven to those most favoured. The dispute ran high, and the
beautiful Princ