The Arabian Nights Entertainments, vol 3 | Page 5

began to smile. The king of Persia perceived it with a surprise that
made him break forth into an exclamation of joy; and no longer
doubting but that she was going to speak, he waited for that happy
moment with an eagerness and attention that cannot easily be expressed
At last the fair slave thus addressed herself to the king: "Sire, I have so
many things to say to your majesty, that, having once broken silence, I
know not where to begin. However, in the first place, I think myself
bound to thank you for all the favours and honours you have been
pleased to confer upon me, and to implore heaven to bless and prosper
you, to prevent the wicked designs of your enemies, and not suffer you
to die after hearing me speak, but to grant you a long life. After this,
sire, I cannot give you greater satisfaction than by acquainting you that
I am with child; and I wish, as you do, it may be a son. Had it never
been my fortune to be pregnant, I was resolved (I beg your majesty to
pardon the sincerity of my intention) never to have loved you, and to
have kept an eternal silence; but now I love you as I ought to do."
The king of Persia, ravished to hear the fair slave not only speak, but
tell him tidings in which he was so nearly concerned, embraced her
tenderly. "Staining light of my eyes," said he, "it is impossible for me
to receive greater delight than you have now given me: you have
spoken to me, and you have declared your being with child, which I did
not expect. After these two occasions of joy I am transported out of
myself."
The king of Persia, in the transport of his feelings, said no more to the
fair slave. He left her, but in such a manner as made her perceive his
intention was speedily to return: and being willing that the occasion of
his joys should be made public, he declared it to his officers, and sent
for the grand vizier. As soon as he came, he ordered him to distribute a
thousand pieces of gold among the holy men of his religion, who made
vows of poverty; as also among the hospitals and the poor, by way of
returning thanks to heaven: and his will was obeyed by the direction of

that minister.
After the king of Persia had given this order, he returned to the fair
slave again. "Madam," said he, "pardon me for leaving you so abruptly,
since you have been the occasion of it; but I hope you will indulge me
with some conversation, since I am desirous to know of you several
things of much greater consequence. Tell me, my dearest soul, what
were the powerful reasons that induced you to persist in that obstinate
silence for a whole year together, though every day you saw me, heard
me talk to you, ate and drank with me, and every night slept with me? I
shall pass by your not speaking; but how you could carry yourself so as
that I could never discover whether you were sensible of what I said to
you or no, I confess, surpasses my understanding; and I cannot yet
comprehend how you could contain yourself so long; therefore I must
conclude the occasion of it to be very extraordinary."
"To satisfy the king of Persia's curiosity," replied the lady, "think
whether or no to be a slave, far from my own country, without any
hopes of ever seeing it again, to have a heart torn with grief, at being
separated forever from my mother, my brother, my friends, and my
acquaintance, are not these sufficient reasons for the silence your
majesty has thought so strange and unaccountable?
The love of our native country is as natural to us as that of our parents;
and the loss of liberty is insupportable to everyone who is not wholly
destitute of common sense, and knows how to set a value on it. The
body indeed may be enslaved, and under the subjection of a master,
who has the power and authority in his hands; the will can never be
conquered, but remains free and unconfined, depending on itself alone,
as your majesty has found in my case; and it is a wonder that I have not
followed the example of many unfortunate wretches, whom the loss of
liberty has reduced to the melancholy resolution of procuring their own
deaths in a thousand ways, by a liberty which cannot be taken from
them."
"Madam," replied the king, "I am convinced of the truth of what you
say; but till this moment I was of opinion, that a person beautiful, of
good