Fairy Tales from the Arabian Nights | Page 4

I should be very glad if you would
think of marrying some of the princes of the earth I am ready to
contribute all that lies in my power towards it; and I am certain there is
not one of them, however powerful, but would be proud of sharing his
crown with you."
'At this discourse of my brother's, I fell into a violent passion.
"Brother," said I, "you know that I am descended, as well as you, by
both father's and mother's side, from the kings and queens of the sea,
without any mixture of alliance with those of the earth; therefore I do
not intend to marry below myself, any more than they did. The
condition to which we are reduced shall never oblige me to alter my
resolution; and if you perish in the execution of your design, I am
prepared to fall with you, rather than to follow the advice I so little
expected from you."
'My brother, who was still earnest for the marriage, however improper
for me, endeavoured to make me believe that there were kings of the
earth who were nowise inferior to those of the sea. This put me into a
more violent passion, which occasioned him to say several bitter words
that stung me to the quick. He left me as much dissatisfied with myself
as he could possibly be with me; and in this peevish mood I gave a
spring from the bottom of the sea up to the island of the moon.
'Notwithstanding the violent displeasure that made me cast myself upon
that island, I lived content in retirement. But in spite of all my
precautions, a person of distinction, attended by his servants, surprised
me sleeping, and carried me to his own house, and wished me to marry
him. When he saw that fair means would not prevail upon me, he
attempted to make use of force; but I soon made him repent of his
insolence. So at last he resolved to sell me; which he did to that very
merchant who brought me hither and sold me to your majesty. This
man was a very prudent, courteous, humane person, and during the
whole of the long journey, never gave me the least reason to complain.

'As for your majesty,' continued Queen Gulnare, 'if you had not shown
me all the respect you have hitherto paid, and given me such
undeniable marks of your affection that I could no longer doubt of it, I
hesitate not to tell you plainly that I should not have remained with you.
I would have thrown myself into the sea out of this very window, and I
would have gone in search of my mother, my brother, and the rest of
my relations; and, therefore, I hope you will no longer look upon me as
a slave, but as a princess worthy of your alliance.'
After this manner Queen Gulnare discovered herself to the King of
Persia, and finished her story. 'My charming, my adorable queen,' cried
he, 'what wonders have I heard! I must ask a thousand questions
concerning those strange and unheard-of things which you have related
to me. I beseech you to tell me more about the kingdom and people of
the sea, who are altogether unknown to me. I have heard much talk,
indeed, of the inhabitants of the sea, but I always looked upon it as
nothing but a tale or fable; but, by what you have told me, I am
convinced there is nothing more true; and I have a very good proof of it
in your own person, who are one of them, and are pleased to
condescend to be my wife; which is an honour no other inhabitant on
the earth can boast of besides myself. There is one thing yet which
puzzles me; therefore I must beg the favour of you to explain it; that is,
I cannot comprehend how it is possible for you to live or move in the
water without being drowned. There are very few amongst us who have
the art of staying under water; and they would surely perish, if, after a
certain time, they did not come up again.'
'Sire,' replied Queen Gulnare, 'I shall with pleasure satisfy the King of
Persia. We can walk at the bottom of the sea with as much ease as you
can upon land; and we can breathe in the water as you do in the air; so
that instead of suffocating us, as it does you, it absolutely contributes to
the preservation of our lives. What is yet more remarkable is, that it
never wets our clothes; so that when we have a mind to visit the earth,
we have no occasion to dry them. Our common language is the same