1 827.] The Adventures of Prince Hassan. 37 1 



was awakened by the awful claps of a thunder-storm. Already the sea 

 was rising; a land-wind was dashing it against the shores, and every thing 

 announced an approaching storm. Prince Hassan thought, nevertheless, 

 he should be enabled to regain his island. He got into his canoe, and had 

 nearly landed, when a violent gust of wind drove him out to sea. The 

 tempest increased every minute ; and his canoe, which was only the trunk 

 of a tree hollowed out, was soon driven far away. He waited for death 

 with tranquillity, not expecting to escape it when his vessel struck against 

 a rock and overset. He swam fora long while; but night coming on, 

 new dangers arose. He knew not which way he was going, and feared 

 he might be leaving the shore, instead of nearing it. He still kept swim- 

 ming, and was almost exhausted, when he perceived an iron ring, which 

 was fastened to a tower : he seized hold of it, and held by it, resolved to 

 wait till day broke, that he might make for the nearest shore. He was 

 complaining of his destiny, which persecuted him with such cruelty, when 

 he heard a voice which said to him, ** Unhappy stranger, that the sea and 

 winds have thrown on these shores, cease to lament your lot! Alas ! why 

 cannot you end my woes, as I can your sorrows, in saving your life ? 

 Take hold of this cord ; the gods have not yet ordained you to die." The 

 prince hesitated for some time. He reproached himself with risking the 

 life of the person who saved his ; but his strength was so overcome that he 

 could not remain where he was without risk of perishing. The darkness 

 emboldened him : he seized hold of the cord, and ascended the tower, 

 when he found himself in a chamber ; but the darkness was such that he 

 could distinguish nothing. He resolved to throw himself into the sea as 

 soon as dawn appeared, and to make for the nearest island not wishing to 

 deprive of life a person who had extricated him from such imminent peril. 

 " What do I not owe you ?" said he to his deliverer ; * c and how can I 

 make you any recompence for your goodness ? But what can an unhappy 

 prince, whom the destinies persecute, do ? Your pity in saving my life 

 may subject me to new perils, which death would have freed me from. 

 Let me not, however, remain ignorant of the name of the place where the 

 waves and wind have driven me." "It is near the Island of Night, where my 

 father is king," replied the unknown voice. "This tower is called the Tower 

 of Darkness ; it was built by the hands of a fairy. Never do the rays of the 

 sun, or the pale beams of the moon, enlighten it : an eternal obscurity sur- 

 rounds it, and the nearest objects cannot be distinguished." This discourse 

 consoled Prince Hassan. He no longer feared that his sight would cause 

 the death .of this princess, as death was only occasioned by seeing him. 

 The profound and eternal darkness which surrounded this tower reassured 

 him. " But to what climate do you owe your birth ?" continued the prin- 

 cess; u and how happens it that the tempest has cast you on this shore? 

 Do not refuse me the recital of your adventures." After several sighs, 

 occasioned by the recollection of his misfortunes, the prince commenced his 

 history in the following terms : 



" I was born on the Island of Brilliants ; and my father, 5/110 had 

 reigned there for a long time, beheld with grief the sterility of the queen, 

 my mother. At length she became pregnant. Several fairies assisted at 

 my birth, and presented me with all the virtues that a prince could desire. 

 My father, to pay them proper respect, had prepared for them a magnificent 

 repast in the saloon of the palace. Already the feast had commenced 



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