In the
meantime, if I have any occasion for him, I have only to touch a
talisman, and he appears. It is now four days since he was here, and I
have therefore to wait six days more before he again makes his
appearance. You, therefore, may remain five with me, if it be
agreeable to you, in order to keep me company; and I will endeavor to
regale and entertain you equal to your merit and dignity."
The princess then conducted me to a bath, the most commodious, and the
most sumptuous imaginable; and when I came forth, instead of my own
clothes I found a costly robe, which I did not esteem so much for its
richness as because it made me appear worthy to be in her company. We
sat down on a sofa covered with rich tapestry, with cushions of the
rarest Indian brocade; and some time after she covered a table with
several dishes of delicate meats. We ate, and passed the remaining
part of the day, as also the evening, together very pleasantly.
The next day I said to her, "Fair princess, you have been too long
buried alive in this subterranean palace; pray rise--follow me and
enjoy the light of day, of which you have been deprived so many
years."
"Prince," replied she, with a smile, "if you out of ten days will
grant me nine, and resign the tenth to the genie, the light of day
would be nothing to me."
"Princess," said I, "the fear of the genie makes you speak thus. For
my part, I regard him so little that I will break in pieces his
talisman, with the spell that is written about it.
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