Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 12.djvu/22

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It was no ſmall Surprize to the Prince to hear himſelf named, in a place he had never heard of, tho'ſo nigh his Father's Capital, and he could not comprehend, how he ſhould be known to a Lady, who was a Stranger to him. At làſt he return'd the Lady's Compliment by throwing himſelf at her Feet, and rising up again, said to her, Madam, I return you a thouſand Thanks for the Affurance you give me of a Welcome to a place, where I believ'd my imprudent Curiosity had made me penetrate too far. But, Madam, may 1, without being guilty of ill Manners, dare to ask you by what Adventure you know me? And that you who live in the ſame Neighbourhood with me, ſhould be ſo great a Stranger to me. Prince, said the Lady, let us go into the Hall, there I'll gratify you in your Request.

After these Words, the Lady led Prince Ahmed into the Hall, the noble Structure of which, and the Gold and Azure which imbellish'd the Dome, and the inestimable Richneſs of the Furniture, appear'd ſo great a Novelty to him, that he could not enough expreſs his Admiration, by crying out, that he had never, in his Life, beheld any thing like it, and believed that never any thing ever was to be compared to it. I can aſsure you, reply'd the Lady, that this is the leaſt piece of Curioſity in my Palace, and you will ſay ſo when you have ſeen all the Apartments. Then sfhe sat down on a Sofa, and when the Prince by herIntreaty had done the ſame, she ſaid, You are surprized, you say, that I ſhould know you, and not be known by you, but you will be no longer surprized, when inform'd who I am. You are undoubtedly sensible, that your Religion teaches you to believe, that the World is inhabited by Genies as well as Men; I am the Daughter of one of the most powerful and diftinguish'd Genies, and my Name is Paribanon. Therefore you ought not to be amazed, that I know you, the Sultan your Father, the Princes your Brothers, and the Princeſs Nouronnihar. I am no Stranger to your Lives and Travels, of which I can give you all the Circumstances, since it was I my self who expoſed to Sale the artificial Apple-which you bought at Samarcande, the Tapety which Prince Houſſain met with at Bisnagar, and the Ivory proſpective Glaſs which Prince

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