Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/58

Obligations you have put upon me; without you, I ſhould never have ſeen the Prince of Perſia, nor have loved that which is the moſt amiable Thing in the World: But you may aſſure your ſelf however, that I ſhail not die ungrateful, and that my Acknowledgment, if poſſible, ſhall be equal to the Obligation. Ebn Thaher anſwered this Compliment by a low Bow, and wiſh’d the Favourite the Accompliſhment of all her Deſires.

Schemſelnihar, turning towards the Prince of Perſia; who ſat by her, and looking upon him with ſome ſort of Confuſion, after what had paſs’d between them, ſays to him, Sir, I am very well aſſured you love me, and how great ſoever your Love may be to me, you need not doubt, but mine is as great towards you: But let’s not flatter our ſelves; for though we be both agreed, yet I ſee nothing for you and me but Trouble, Impatience, and tormenting Grief, There is no other Remedy for our Evils, but to love one another conſtantly, to refer our ſelves to the Diſpoſal of Heaven, and to expect till it ſhall determine our Deſtiny. Madam, replies the Prince of Perſia, You will do me the greateſt Injuſtice in the World, if you doubt but one Moment of the Continuance of my Love. It is ſo united to my Soul, that I can juſtly ſay, it makes the beſt part of it, and that I ſhall perſevere in it after Death. Pains, Torments, Obſtacles, nothing ſhall be capable of hindering me to love you. Speaking thoſe Words, he ſhed Tears in Abundance, and Schemſelnihar was not able to reſtrain her’s.

Ebn Thaher took this Opportunity to ſpeak to the Favourite, Madam, ſays he, a!low me to repreſent to you, that inſtead of breaking forth into Tears, you ought to rejoice that you are together. I underſtand not this Grief. What will it be when you are oblig’d to part? But what do I talk of that, we have been a long while here, and you know, Madam, that it’s Time for us to be going. Ah! How Cruel are you, replies Schemſelnihar! You, who knew the Cauſe of my Tears, have you no Pity for my unfortunate Condition? O! Sad Fatality, what have I done to be ſubject to the ſevere Law of not being able to enjoy the only Thing I love?