The Enchanted Horse - 2

Meanwhile, Prince Firouz Schah had gone gaily¹ up into the air, and for the space of an hour continued to ascend² higher and higher, till the very mountains were not distinguishable from the plains. Then he began to think it was time to come down, and took for granted that, in order to do this, it was only needful to turn the screw the reverse way; but, to his surprise and horror, he found that, turn as he might, he did not make the smallest impression. He then remembered that he had never waited to ask how he was to get back to earth again, and understood the danger in which he stood. Luckily, he did not lose his head, and set about examining the horse's neck with great care, till at last, to his intense joy, he discovered a tiny little peg³（钉，桩）, much smaller than the other, close to the right ear. This he turned, and found him-self dropping to the earth, though more slowly than he had left it. 

 

It was now dark, and as the prince could see nothing, he was obliged, not without some feeling of disquiet⁴, to allow the horse to direct his own course, and midnight was already passed before Prince Firouz Schah again touched the ground, faint and weary（疲倦的，厌烦的） from his long ride, and from the fact that he had eaten nothing since early morning. 

 

The first thing he did on dismounting was to try to find out where he was, and, as far as he could discover in the thick darkness, he found himself on the terraced roof of a huge palace, with a balustrade（栏杆） of marble running round. In one corner of the terrace stood a small door, opening on to a staircase which led down into the palace. 

 

Some people might have hesitated before exploring further, but not so the prince. "I am doing no harm," he said, "and whoever the owner may be, he will not touch me when he sees I am unarmed," and in dread⁵ of making a false step, he went cautiously down the staircase. On a landing, he noticed an open door, beyond which was a faintly lighted hall. 

 

Before entering, the prince paused and listened, but he heard nothing except the sound of men snoring. By the light of a lantern suspended from the roof, he perceived a row of black guards sleeping, each with a naked sword lying by him, and he understood that the hall must form the ante-room to the chamber⁶ of some queen or princess. 

 

Standing⁷ quite still, Prince Firouz Schah looked about him, till his eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, and he noticed a bright light shining through a curtain in one corner. He then made his way softly towards it, and, drawing aside its folds, passed into a magnificent chamber full of sleeping women, all lying on low couches, except one, who was on a sofa; and this one, he knew, must be the princess. 

 

Gently stealing up to the side of her bed he looked at her, and saw that she was more beautiful than any woman he had ever beheld⁸. But, fascinated though he was, he was well aware of the danger of his position, as one cry of surprise would awake the guards, and cause his certain death. 

 

So sinking quietly on his knees, he took hold of the sleeve of the princess and drew her arm lightly towards him. The princess opened her eyes, and seeing before her a handsome well-dressed man, she remained speechless with astonishment⁹. 

 

This favourable¹⁰ moment was seized by the prince, who bowing low while he knelt, thus addressed her: 

 

"You behold¹¹, madame, a prince in distress¹², son to the King of Persia, who, owing to an adventure so strange that you will scarcely believe it, finds himself here, a suppliant¹³ for your protection. But yesterday, I was in my father's court, engaged in the celebration of our most solemn festival; to-day, I am in an unknown land, in danger of my life." 

 

Now the princess whose mercy Prince Firouz Schah implored¹⁴ was the eldest¹⁵ daughter of the King of Bengal, who was enjoying rest and change in the palace her father had built her, at a little distance from the capital. She listened kindly¹⁶ to what he had to say, and then answered: 

 

"Prince, be not uneasy; hospitality and humanity are practised as widely in Bengal as they are in Persia. The protection you ask will be given you by all. You have my word for it." And as the prince was about to thank her for her goodness, she added quickly, "However great may be my curiosity to learn by what means you have travelled here so speedily, I know that you must be faint for want of food, so I shall give orders to my women to take you to one of my chambers¹⁷, where you will be provided with supper, and left to repose¹⁸." 

 

By this time the princess's attendants were all awake, and listening to the conversation. At a sign from their mistress they rose, dressed themselves hastily, and snatching up some of the tapers¹⁹ which lighted the room, conducted the prince to a large and lofty room, where two of the number prepared his bed, and the rest went down to the kitchen, from which they soon returned with all sorts of dishes. Then, showing him cupboards filled with dresses and linen（亚麻布）, they quitted the room. 

 

During their absence the Princess of Bengal, who had been greatly struck by the beauty of the prince, tried in vain to go to sleep again. It was of no use: she felt broad awake, and when her women entered the room, she inquired eagerly if the prince had all he wanted, and what they thought of him. 

 

"Madame," they replied, "it is of course impossible for us to tell what impression this young man has made on you. For ourselves, we think you would be fortunate if the king your father should allow you to marry anyone so amiable²⁰（亲切的）. Certainly there is no one in the Court of Bengal who can be compared with him." 

 

These flattering observations were by no means displeasing²¹ to the princess, but as she did not wish to betray her own feelings she merely said, "You are all a set of chatterboxes（唠叨的人）; go back to bed, and let me sleep." 

 

When she dressed the following morning, her maids noticed that, contrary to her usual habit, the princess was very particular about her toilette, and insisted on her hair being dressed two or three times over. "For," she said to herself, "if my appearance was not displeasing to the prince when he saw me in the condition I was, how much more will he be struck with me when he beholds²² me with all my charms." 

 

Then she placed in her hair the largest and most brilliant diamonds she could find, with a necklace, bracelets²³ and girdle, all of precious stones. And over her shoulders her ladies put a robe of the richest stuff in all the Indies, that no one was allowed to wear except members of the royal family. When she was fully²⁴ dressed according to her wishes, she sent to know if the Prince of Persia was awake and ready to receive her, as she desired to present herself before him. 

 

When the princess's messenger entered his room, Prince Firouz Schah was in the act of leaving it, to inquire if he might be allowed to pay his homage²⁵ to her mistress: but on hearing the princess's wishes, he at once gave way. "Her will is my law," he said, "I am only here to obey her orders." 

 

In a few moments the princess herself appeared, and after the usual compliments had passed between them, the princess sat down on a sofa, and began to explain to the prince her reasons for not giving him an audience in her own apartments. "Had I done so," she said, "we might have been interrupted at any hour by the chief of the eunuchs, who has the right to enter whenever it pleases him, whereas this is forbidden ground. I am all impatience²⁶ to learn the wonderful accident which has procured²⁷ the pleasure of your arrival, and that is why I have come to you here, where no one can intrude²⁸ upon（侵入，打扰） us. Begin then, I entreat²⁹ you, without delay."

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