The Story of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp - Part V

Aladdin received these praises from the sultan with modesty,
and replied in these words: "Sir, it is a great honour to me to
deserve your majesty's good-will and approbation, and I assure
you, I shall study to deserve them more."

The sultan returned to his palace, but would not let Aladdin
attend him. When he came there, he found his grand vizier
waiting, to whom he related the wonder he had witnessed with
the utmost admiration, and in such terms as left the minister no
room to doubt but that the fact was as the sultan related it;
though he was the more confirmed in his belief that Aladdin's
palace was the effect of enchantment, as he had told the sultan
the first moment he saw it. He was going to repeat the observa-
tion, but the sultan interrupted him, and said: "You told me so
once before; I see, vizier, you have not forgotten your son's
espousals to my daughter." The grand vizier plainly saw how
much the sultan was prepossessed, therefore avoided disputes,
and let him remain in his own opinion. The sultan as soon as
he rose every morning went into the closet, to look at Aladdin's
palace, and would go many times in a day to contemplate and
admire it.

Aladdin did not confine himself in his palace; but took
care to show himself once or twice a week in the town, by going
sometimes to one mosque, and sometimes to another, to prayers ;
or to visit the grand vizier, who affected to pay his court to him on
certain days; or to do the principal lords of the court the honour
to return their visits after he had regaled them at his palace.
Every time he went out, he caused two slaves, who walked by
the side of his horse, to throw handfuls of money among the people
as he passed through the streets and squares, which were gen-
erally on these occasions crowded. Besides, no one came to
his palace gates to ask alms but returned satisfied with his
liberality. In short, he so divided his time, that not a week
passed but he went either once or twice a-hunting, sometimes in
the environs of the city, sometimes farther off; at which time the
villages through which he passed felt the effects of his generosity,
which gained him the love and blessings of the people; and it
was common for them to swear by his head. With all these good
qualities he showed a zeal for the public good which could not be
suJSaciently applauded. He gave sufficient proofs of both in a
revolt on the borders of the kingdom ; for he no sooner understood
that the sultan was levying an army to disperse the rebels than
he begged the command of it, which he found not difficult to
obtain. As soon as he was empowered, he marched with so
much expedition, that the sultan heard of the defeat of the rebels
before he had received an account of his son-in-law's arrival in
the army.

Aladdin had conducted himself in this manner several years,
when the African magician, who undesignedly had been the
instrument of raising him to so high a pitch of prosperity, recalled
him to his recollection in Africa, whither, after his expedition, he
had returned. And though he was almost persuaded that
Aladdin must have died miserably in the subterranean abode
where he had left him, yet he had the curiosity to inform himself
about his end with certainty ; and as he was a great geomancer,
he took out of a cupboard a square, covered box, which he used
in his geomantic observations. After he had prepared and levelled
the sand which was in it with an intention to discover whether
or not Aladdin had died, he cast the points, drew the figures, and
formed a horoscope, by which, when he came to examine it, he
found that instead of dying in the cave, his victim had made his
escape, lived splendidly, was in possession of the wonderful
lamp, had married a princess, and was much honoured and
respected.

The magician no sooner understood, by the rules of his
diabolical art, that Aladdin had arrived to this height of good
fortune, than his face became inflamed with anger, and he cried
out in a rage: "This sorry tailor's son has discovered the secret
and virtue of the lamp! I believed his death to be certain; but
find that he enjoys the fruit of my labour and study! I will,
however, prevent his enjoying it long, or perish in the attempt."
He was not a great while deliberating on what he should do, but
the next morning mounted a barb, set forward, and never
stopped but to refresh himself and his horse, till he arrived at the
capital of China. He alighted, took up his lodging in a khan,
and stayed there the remainder of the day and the night.

The next day, his first object was to inquire what people said
of Aladdin; and, taking a walk through the town, he went to
the most public and frequented places, where persons of the best
distinction met to drink a certain warm liquor, which he had
drunk often during his former visit. As soon as he had seated
himself, he was presented with a cup of it, which he took; but
listening at the same time to the discourse of the company on each
side of him, he heard them talking of Aladdin's palace. When
he had drunk off his liquor, he joined them, and taking this
opportunity, inquired particularly of what palace they spoke
with so much commendation. "From whence come you.''" said
the person to whom he addressed himself; "you must certainly
be a stranger not to have seen or heard talk of Prince Aladdin's
palace. I do not say," continued the man, "that it is one of the
wonders of the world, but that it is the only wonder of the world ;
since nothing so grand, rich, and magnificent was ever beheld.
Go and see it, and then judge whether I have told you more than
the truth." ''Forgive my ignorance," replied the African
magician; "I arrived here but yesterday from the farthest part
of Africa, where the fame of this palace had not reached when I
came away. The business which brought me hither was so
urgent, that my sole object was to arrive as soon as I could,
without stopping anywhere, or making any acquaintance. But
I will not fail to go and see it , if you will do me the favour to show
me the way thither."

The person to whom the African magician addressed himself
took a pleasure in showing him the way to Aladdin's palace, and
he got up and went thither instantly. When he came to the
palace, and had examined it on all sides, he doubted not but that
Aladdin had made use of the lamp to build it. Without attend-
ing to the inability of a poor tailor's son, he knew that none but
the genies, the slaves of the lamp, could have performed such
wonders; and piqued to the quick at Aladdin's happiness and
splendour, he returned to the khan where he lodged.

The next point was to ascertain where the lamp was ; whether
Aladdin carried it about with him, or where he kept it; and this
he was to discover by an operation of geomancy. As soon as he
entered his lodging, he took his square box of sand, which he
always carried with him when he travelled, and after he had
performed some operatio:^s, he found that the lamp was in
Aladdin's palace, and so great was his joy at the discovery that
he could hardly contain himself. "Well," said he, '*I shall
have the lamp, and I defy Aladdin to prevent my carrying it off,
thus making him sink to his original meanness, from which he
has taken so high a flight."

It was Aladdin's misfortune at that time to be absent in the
chase for eight days, and only three were expired, which the magi-
cian came to know. After he had performed the magical opera-
tion he went to the superintendent of the khan, entered into
conversation with him on indifferent subjects, and among the
rest, told him he had been to see Aladdin's palace; and after
exaggerating on all that he had seen most worthy of observation,
added: "But my curiosity leads me further, and I shall not be
satisfied till I have seen the person to whom this wonderful edifice
belongs." "That will be no difficult matter," replied the master
of the khan; "there is not a day passes but he gives an oppor-
tunity when he is in town, but at present he has been gone these
three days on a hunting-match, which will last eight."

The magician wanted to know no more; he took his leave of
the superintendent of the khan, and returning to his own chamber,
said to himself: "This is an opportunity I ought by no means to
neglect." To that end, he went to a coppersmith and asked
for a dozen copper lamps : the master of the shop told him he had
not so many by him, but if he would have patience till the next
day, he would have them ready. The magician appointed his
time, and desired him to take care that they should be handsome
and well polished. After promising to pay him well, he returned
to his inn.

The next day the magician called for the twelve lamps, paid
the man his full price, put them into a basket which he bought on
purpose, and with the basket hanging on his arm, went directly
to Aladdin's palace; as he approached beginning to cry: "Who
will change old lamps for new ones ? " As he went along, a crowd
of children collected, who hooted, and thought him, as did all who
chanced to be passing by, a madman or a fool.

The African magician regarded not their scoffs, hootings, or
all they could say to hirn, but still continued crying: "Who will
change old lamps for new .^" He repeated this so often, walking
backward and forward in front of the palace, that the princess,
who was then in the hall with the four and twenty windows,
hearing a man cry something and not being able to distinguish his
words, owing to the hooting of the children, and increasing mob
about him, sent one of her women slaves to know what he cried.

The slave was not long before she returned, and ran into the
hall, laughing so heartily that the princess could not forbear
herself. "Well, giggler," said the princess, "will you tell me
what you laugh at.^" "Madam," answered the slave, laughing
still, "who can forbear laughing, to see a fool with a basket on his
arm, full of fine new lamps, ask to change them for old ones.^"

Another female slave hearing this, said: *'Now you speak of
lamps, I know not whether the princess may have observed it,
but there is an old one upon a shelf of the prince's robing-room.
If the princess chooses, she may have the pleasure of trying if
this fool is so silly as to give a new lamp for an old one, without
taking anything for the exchange."

The lamp this slave spoke of was the wonderful lamp, which
Aladdin had laid upon the shelf before he departed for the chase :
this he had done several times before; but neither the princess, the
slaves, nor the eunuchs had ever taken notice of it. At all other
times except when hunting he carried it about his person.

The princess, who knew not the value of this lamp, and the
interest that Aladdin, not to mention herself, had to keep it safe,
entered into the pleasantry, and commanded a eunuch to take
it and make the exchange. The eunuch obeyed, went out of the
hall, and no sooner got to the palace gates than he saw the African
magician, called to him, and showing him the old lamp, said:
"Give me a new lamp for this ?''

The magician never doubted but this was the lamp he wanted.
There could be no other such in the palace, where every utensil
was gold or silver. He snatched it eagerly out of the eunuch's
hand, and thrusting it as far as he could into his breast, offered
him his basket, and bade him choose which he liked best. The
eunuch picked out one, and carried it to the princess; but the
exchange was no sooner made than the place rang with the shouts
of the children, deriding the magician's folly.

The African magician gave everybody leave to laugh as much
as they pleased ; he stayed not long near the palace, but made the
best of his way, without crying any longer: "New lamps for old
ones." His end was answered, and by his silence he got rid of
the children and the mob.

As soon as he was out of the square between the two palaces,
he hastened down the streets which were the least frequented;
and having no more occasion for his lamps or basket, set all down
in an alley where nobody saw him: then going down another
street or two, he walked till he came to one of the city gates,
and pursuing his way through the suburbs, which were very
extensive, at length reached a lonely spot, where he stopped for
a time to execute the design he had in contemplation, never caring
for his horse which he had left at the khan; but thinking himself
perfectly compensated by the treasure he had acquired.

In this place the African magician passed the remainder of the
day, till the darkest time of night, when he pulled the lamp out
of his breast and rubbed it. At that summons the genie appeared,
and said : " What wouldst thou have ? I am ready to obey thee as
thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their
hands; both I and the other slaves of the lamp." "I command
thee," replied the magician, *' to transport me immediately and the
palace which thou and the other slaves of the lamp have built in
this city, with all the people in it, to Africa." The genie made
no reply, but with the assistance of the other genies, the slaves
of the lamp immediately transported him, and the palace entire,
to the spot whither he was desired to convey it.

As soon as the sultan rose the next morning, according to
custom, he went into his closet, to have the pleasure of con-
templating and admiring Aladdin's palace; but when he first
looked that way, and instead of a palace saw an empty space such
as it was before the palace was built, he thought he was mistaken,
and rubbed his eyes; but when he looked again, he still saw
nothing more the second time than the first, though the weather
was fine, the sky clear, and the dawn advancing had made all
objects very distinct. He looked again in front, to the right and
left, but beheld nothing more than he had formerly been used to
see from his window. His amazement was so great, that he stood
for some time turning his eyes to the spot where the palace had
stood, but where it was no longer to be seen. He could not
comprehend how so large a palace as Aladdin's, which he
had seen plainly every day for some years, and but the day
before, should vanish so soon, and not leave the least remains
behind.

"Certainly," said he to himself, "I am not mistaken; it

stood there: if it had fallen, the materials would have lain in
heaps ; and if it had been swallowed up by an earthquake, there
would be some mark left." At last he retired to his apartment,
not without looking behind him before he quitted the spot, ordered
the grand vizier to be sent for with expedition, and in the mean-
time sat down, his mind agitated by so many different conjectures
that he knew not what to resolve.

The grand vizier did not make the sultan wait long for him,
but came with so much precipitation, that neither he nor his
attendants, as they passed, missed Aladdin's palace; neither
did the porters, when they opened the palace gates, observe any
alteration.

When he came into the sultan's presence, he said to him:
"The haste in which your majesty sent for me makes me believe
something extraordinary has happened, since you know this is
a day of public audience, and I should not have failed of attend-
ing at the usual time." "Indeed," said the sultan, "it is some-
thing very extraordinary, as you say, and you will allow it to be
so: tellme what is become of Aladdin's palace.^" "His palace!"
replied the grand vizier in amazement; "I thought as I passed
it stood in its usual place." "Go into my closet," said the
sultan, "and tell me if you can see it."

The grand vizier went into the closet, where he was struck
w^ith no less amazement than the sultan had been. When he
was well assured that there was not the least appearance of the
palace, he returned to the sultan. "Well," said the sultan,
*'have you seen Aladdin's palace .^" "No," answered the vizier,
"but your majesty may remember, that I had the honour to tell
you, that the edifice, which was the subject of your admiration,
was only the work of magic and a magician; but your majesty
would not pay the least attention to what I said." The sultan,
who could not deny what the grand vizier had represented to
him, flew into the greater passion: "Where is that impostor,
that wicked wretch," said he, "that I may have his head taken
off immediately?" "Sir," replied the grand vizier, "it is some
days since he came to take his leave of your majesty, on pretence
of hunting ; he ought to be sent for, to know what is become of his
palace, since he cannot be ignorant of what has been transacted."
"To send for him would be too great an indulgence," replied
the sultan: "command a detachment of horse to bring him to
me loaded with chains." The grand vizier gave orders for a
detachment, and instructed the officer who commanded the men
how they were to act, that Aladdin might not escape. The
detachment pursued its orders ; and about five or six leagues from
the town met him returning from the chase. The officer ad-
vanced respectfully, and informed him the sultan was so im-
patient to see him, that he had sent his party to accompany him
home.

Aladdin had not the least suspicion of the true reason of their
meeting him ; but when he came within half a league of the city,
the detachment surrounded him, when the officer addressed him-
self to him, and said :" Prince, it is with great regret that I declare
to you the sultan's order to arrest you, and to carry you before him

as a criminal : I beg of you not to take it ill that we acquit our-
selves of our duty, and to forgive us." Aladdin, who felt himself
innocent, was much surprised at this declaration, and asked the
officer if he knew what crime he was accused of; who replied,
he did not. Then Aladdin, finding that his retinue was much
inferior to this detachment, alighted from his horse, and said to
the officers: "Execute your orders; I am not conscious that I
have committed any offence against the sultan's person or govern-
ment." A heavy chain was immediately put about his neck, and
fastened round his body, so that both his arms were pinioned
down ; the officer then put himself at the head of the detachment,
and one of the troopers taking hold of the end of the chain and
proceeding after the officer, led Aladdin, who was obliged to
follow him on foot, into the city.

When this detachment entered the suburbs, the people, who
saw Aladdin thus led as a state criminal, never doubted but that
his head was to be cut off; and as he was generally beloved, some
took sabres and other arms; and those who had none gathered
stones, and followed the escort. Their numbers presently
increased so much, that the soldiery began to think it would be
well if they could get into the sultan's palace before Aladdin w^as
rescued; to prevent which, according to the different extent of
the streets, they took care to cover the ground by extending or
closing. In this manner they with much difficulty arrived at the
palace square, and there drew up in a line, till their officer and
troopers with Aladdin had got within the gates, which were
immediately shut.

Aladdin was carried before the sultan, who waited for him,
attended by the grand vizier; and as soon as he saw him he
ordered the executioner, who waited there for the purpose, to
strike off his head without hearing him, or giving him leave to
clear himself. As soon as the executioner had taken off the chain
that was fastened about Aladdin's neck and body, he made the
supposed criminal kneel down, and tied a bandage over his eyes.
Then drawing his sabre, he took his aim by flourishing it three
times in the air, waiting for the sultan's giving the signal to strike.

At that instant the grand vizier perceiving that the populace
had crowded the great square before the palace, and were
scaling the walls in several places, said to the sultan, before he
gave the signal: "I beg of your majesty to consider what you are
going to do, since you will hazard your palace being destroyed;
and who knows what fatal consequence may follow.?" "My
palace forced ! " replied the sultan ; " who can have that audacity.? "
"Sir," answered the grand vizier, "if your majesty will but cast
your eyes toward the great square, and on the palace walls, you
will perceive the truth of what I say."

The sultan was so much alarmed when he saw so great a
crowd, and how enraged they were, that he ordered the execu-
tioner to put his sabre immediately into the scabbard, to unbind
Aladdin, and at the same time commanded the porters to declare
to the people that the sultan had pardoned him, and that they
might retire. Those who had already got upon the walls
abandoned their design and got quickly down, overjoyed that
they had saved the life of a man they dearly loved, and published
the news amongst the rest, which was presently confirmed by
the mace-bearers from the top of the terraces. The justice which
the sultan had done to Aladdin soon disarmed the populace of
their rage; the tumult abated and the mob dispersed.

T\Tien Aladdin found himself at liberty, he turned toward
the balcony, and perceiving the sultan, raised his voice, and said
to him in a moving manner: "I beg of your majesty to add one
favour more to that which I have already received, which is, to
let me know my crime?" "Your crime," answered the sultan;
** perfidious wretch! Do you not know it? Come hither, and I
will show it you." Aladdin went up, when the sultan, going
before him without looking at him, said: "Follow me"; and then
led him into his closet. When he came to the door, he said : " Go
in; you ought to know whereabouts your palace stood: look
round and tell me what is become of it ?"

Aladdin looked, but saw nothing. He perceived the spot
upon which his palace had stood; but not being able to divine
how it had disappeared, was thrown into such great confusion
and amazement that he could not return one word of answer.
The sultan, growing impatient, demanded of him again: "Where
is your palace, and what is become of my daughter ?" Aladdin,
breaking silence, replied : " Sir, I perceive and own that the palace
which I have built is not in its place, but is vanished ; neither can
I tell your majesty where it may be, but can assure you I had no
concern in its removal."

"I am not so much concerned about your palace," replied
the sultan; "I value my daughter ten thousand times more, and
would have you find her out, otherwise I will cause your head to
be struck off, and no consideration shall divert me from my
purpose."

*'I beg of your majesty," answered Aladdin, "to grant me
forty days to make my inquiries; and if in that time I have not
the success I wish, I will offer my head at the foot of your throne,
to be disposed of at your pleasure." "I give you the forty days
you ask, "said the sultan; "but think not to escape my resent-
ment if you fail ; for I will find you out in whatsoever part of the
world you may conceal yourself."

Aladdin went out of the sultan's presence with great humilia-
tion, and in a condition worthy of pity. He crossed the courts
of the palace, hanging down his head, and in such great confusion
that he durst not lift up his eyes. The principal oflScers of the
court, who had all professed themselves his friends, instead of
going up to him to comfort him, turned their backs to avoid
seeing him. But had they accosted him with an offer of service,
they would have no more known Aladdin. He did not know
himself, and w^as no longer in his senses, as plainly appeared by
his asking everybody he met, and at every house, if they had seen
his palace, or could tell him any news of it. These questions
made the generality believe that Aladdin was mad. Some
laughed at him, but people of sense and humanity, particularly
those who had had any connection of business or friendship with
him, really pitied him. For three days he rambled about the
¦city in this manner, without coming to any resolution or eating
anything but what some compassionate people forced him to take
out of charity. At last he took the road to the country; and
after he had traversed several fields in wild uncertainty, at the
approach of night came to the bank of a river. There, possessed
by his despair, he said to himself: " Where shall I seek my palace ?
In what province, country, or part of the world, shall I find that
and my dear princess ? I shall never succeed ; I would better free
myself at once from fruitless endeavours, and such bitter grief
as preys upon me." He was just going to throw himself into the
river, but, as a good Mussulman, true to his religion, he thought
he should not do it without first saying his prayers. Going to
prepare himself, he went to the river's brink, in order to perform
the usual ablutions. The place being steep and slippery, he slid
down, and had certainly fallen into the river, but for a little rock,
which projected about two feet out of the earth. Happily also
for him, he still had on the ring which the African magician had
put on his finger before he went down into the subterranean abode
to fetch the precious lamp. In slipping down the bank he rubbed
the ring so hard by holding on the rock, that immediately the
same genie appeared whom he had seen in the cave where the
magician had left him. "What wouldst thou have.^" said the
genie. "I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of
all those that have that ring on their finger ; both I and the other
slaves of the ring."

Aladdin, agreeably surprised at an apparition he so little
expected in his present calamity, replied: "Save my life, genie,
a second time, either by showing me to the place where the palace
I caused to be built now stands, or immediately transporting it
back where it first stood." "What you command me," answered
the genie, "is not wholly in my power; I am only the slave of
the ring; you must address yourself to the slave of the lamp."
"If that be the case," replied Aladdin, "I command thee, by the
power of the ring, to transport me to the spot where my palace
stands, in what part of the world soever it may be, and set me
down under the window of the Princess Badroulboudour." These
words were no sooner out of his mouth than the genie transported
him into Africa, to the midst of a large plain, where his palace
stood, and placing him exactly under the window of the princess's
apartment, left him. All this was done almost in an instant.
Aladdin, notwithstanding the darkness of the night, knew his
palace again; but as the night was far advanced and all was
quiet, he retired to some distance, and sat down at the foot of a
large tree. There, full of hopes, and reflecting on his happiness,
for which he was indebted to chance, he found himself in a much
more comfortable situation than when he was arrested and
carried before the sultan, being now delivered from the imme-
diate danger of losing his life. He amused himself for some
time with these agreeable thoughts ; but not having slept for two
days, was unable to resist the drowsiness which came upon him,
but fell fast asleep.

The next morning, as soon as day appeared, Aladdin was
agreeably awakened by the singing not only of the birds which
had roosted in the tree under which he had passed the night, but
also of those which frequented the thick groves of the palace
garden. When he cast his eyes on that wonderful edifice, he
felt inexpressible joy at thinking he might soon be master of it
again, and once more greet his dear Princess Badroulboudour.
Pleased with these hopes, he immediately arose, went toward
the princess's apartment, and walked some time under her win-
dow in expectation of her rising, that he might see her. During
this expectation, he began to consider with himself whence the
cause of his misfortune had proceeded; and after mature reflec-
tion, no longer doubted that it was owing to having trusted the
lamp out of his sight. He accused himself of negligence in
letting it be a moment away from him. But what puzzled him
most was, that he could not imagine who had been so envious
of his happiness. He would soon have guessed this, if he had
knawn that both he and his palace were now in Africa, the very
name of which would soon have made him remember the magi-
cian, his declared enemy; but the genie, the slave of the ring,
had not made mention of the name of the country, nor had
Aladdin inquired.

The princess rose earlier that morning than she had done
since her transportation into Africa by the magician, whose
presence she was forced to support once a day, because he was
master of the palace; though she had always treated him so
harshly that he dared not reside in it. As she was dressing, one
of the women looking through the w indow perceived Aladdin, and
instantly told her mistress. The princess, who could not believe
the joyful tidings, hastened herself to the window, and seeing
Aladdin, immediately opened it. The noise of opening the
window made Aladdin turn his head that way, and perceiving
the princess he saluted her with joy. "To lose no time," said
she to him, 'T have sent to have the private door opened for you;
enter, and come up." The private door, which was just under
the princess's apartment, was soon opened, and Aladdin con-
ducted up into the chamber. It is impossible to express the joy
of both at seeing each other, after so cruel a separation. After
embracing and shedding tears of joy, they sat down, and Aladdin
said: "I beg of you, princess, in Heaven's name, before we talk
of anything else, to tell me, both for your ow^n sake, the sultan
your father's, and mine, what is become of an old lamp which
I left upon a shelf in my robing-chamber, when I departed for
the chase."

"Alas! dear husband," answered the princess, "I was afraid
our misfortune might be owing to that lamp: and what grieves
me most is, that I have been the cause of it." "Princess,"
replied Aladdin, "do not blame yourself, for I ought to have
taken more care of it. But let us now think only of repairing
the loss; tell me what has happened, and into whose hands it has
fallen." The princess then related how she had changed the old
lamp for a new one, and how the next morning she found herself
in the unknown country they were then in, which she was told
was Africa, by the traitor who had transported her thither by
his magic art.

"Princess," said Aladdin, interrupting her, "you have in-
formed me who the traitor is, by telling me we are in Africa.
He is the most perfidious of men; but this is neither a time nor
place to give you a full account of his villainies. I desire you only
to tell me what he has done with the lamp, and where he has
put it." "He carries it carefully wrapt up in his bosom," said
the princess; "and this I can assure you, because he pulled it
out before me, and showed it to me in triumph."

"Princess," said Aladdin, "do not be displeased that I
trouble you with so many questions, since they are equally
important to us both. But to come to what most particularly
concerns me : tell me, I conjure you, how so wicked and perfidious
a man treats you.?" "Since I have been here," replied the
princess, "he repairs once every day to see me; and I am per-
suaded the little satisfaction he receives from his visits makes
him come no oftener. All his addresses tend to persuade me to
break that faith I have pledged to you, and to take him for my
husband; giving me to understand I need not entertain hopes
of ever seeing you again, for that you were dead, having had
your head struck off by my father's order. He added, to justify
himself, that you were an ungrateful wretch; that your good
fortune was owing to him, and a great many other things of that
nature which I forbear to repeat: but as he received no other
answer from me but grievous complaints and tears, he was
always forced to retire with as little satisfaction as he came. I
doubt not his intention is to allow me time to overcome my
grief, in hopes that afterward I may change my sentiments.
But my dear husband's presence removes all my apprehensions."