The Prince of Perſia’s Anſwer to Schemſelimbar.
YOUR precious Letter had a great Effect upon me; but not ſo great as I could wiſh. You endeavour to comfort me for the Loſs of Ebn Thaher; Alas I for as ſenſible as I am of this, it is but the leaft of my Troubles. You know my Malady, and that it’s only your preſence can cure me. When will the Time come that I ſhall enjoy it without Fear of being ever deprived of it? O how long does it ſeem to me! but ſhall we rather flatter our ſelves that we may ſee one another, You command me to preſerve myſelf, I will obey, ſince I have renounced my own Will to follow yours. Adieu.
After the Jeweller had read this Letter, he gave it again to the Confident, who ſaid when ſhe was going away, I will tell my Miſtreſs to put the ſame Confidence in you ſhe did in
Ebn Thaher. You ſhall hear of me to Morrow. Accordingly next Day ſhe return’d with a pleaſant Countenance: Your very Looks, ſays ſhe to her, inform me that you have brought
Schemſelnihar to what you wiſh’d for: That’s true, ſays the Confident, and you ſhall hear how I effected it: I found yeſterday, continues ſhe,
Schemſelnihar expecting me with Impatience: I gave her the Prince of
Perſia’s Letter, and ſheread it with Tears in her Eyes; an when ſhe had done, and I ſaw that ſhe abandon’d her ſelf to her ordinary Sorrows, Madam, ſaid Ito her, this is doubtleſs
Ebn Thaher’s Removal that troubles you; but ſuffer me to conjure you in the Name of God to trouble your ſelf no farther concerning that matter. We have found another who offers to oblige you with as much Zeal, and what is yet more important, with greater Courage, Then I ſpoke to her of you, continues the Slave, and acquainted her with the Motive which made you go to the Prince of
Perſia’s Houſe: In ſhort, I aſſured her that you would inviolably keep the Secret betwixt her and the Prince of
Perſia, and that you was reſolved to favour their Amours with all your Might. She ſeemed to be much reliev’d by my Diſcourſe. Ah! what Obligations, ſays ſhe, are the Prince of Perſia and I under to that honeſt Man you ſpeak of; I must ſee