372 The Adventures of Prince Hassan. [~OcT, 



when, on a sudden, the air was obscured ; a black vapour spread itself 

 around the saloon, and my father perceived himself lifted up by an invisible 

 hand. All the fairies immediately knew that it must be the fairy Noirja- 

 barbe who had played this prank ; but they had no power over her : they 

 only feared for my father, knowing the cruelty of that fairy. He returned 

 some time afterwards, but so afflicted and so sad, that he was not like the 

 same person. The fairies were very anxious to know what Noirjabarbc 

 had said to him : he dared not or could not reply to them ; grief had taken 

 possession of him; he shed a torrent of tears. The fairy Noirjabarbe had 

 forbidden him, under pain of the most terrible punishment, to relate to any 

 other than to me, what she had said to him. 



" My father had me educated with all possible care ; but that which is a 

 pleasure to other parents increased his grief. He beheld with sorrow my 

 advancing years. The more I improved by the education he gave me, the 

 more he lamented, and the more I cost him in tears. At length I was now 

 arrived in my nineteenth year, when one day he led me to the sea-side. 

 He kept a profound silence ; I followed him trembling : he had never before 

 appeared to me so overcome. He stopped by the side of a wood, and 

 embraced me tenderly. ' Fly, my son !' he said; ' fly this unhappy land, 

 to which you owe your birth ! The time is come when we must separate, 

 J have concealed your departure from my people : it would have been 

 opposed, and they would perhaps have perished in wishing to save you. Go 

 then, my son ! You will find, on the other side of this wood, a vessel which 

 I have equipped expressly. I must not appear before the crew who are to 

 accompany you; my grief would probably make them suspect something. 

 Hasten your departure, and go where the winds may conduct you. Above 

 all things, my son,* continued he, ' do not open this box till an entire year 

 after you hare quitted this unhappy shore/ He said all this, still holding 

 me in his embrace, and bathing me with his tears. I was so overcome 

 that I had scarce power left to throw myself on his neck, and say. ' What 

 have I to fear? Can it cost me more than life ? No, no, my father! if 

 I must die, let me at least die in your embraces.' { Fly !' said he ; ' and, 

 obedient to the prayers of your father, hasten from this place !' He forced 

 himself away from me, and buried himself in the woods. I remained 

 immoveable, and was unable to move a step to follow him. I soon came 

 to myself; but I searched in vain for him in the wood ; 1 never saw him 

 more. I found the vessel which had been prepared for me. They only 

 waited for me : they had been informed that 1 was going to the Fortunate 

 Islands, which are not very far distant from the Isle of Brilliants. 



" I now embarked, after having prayed the gods to preserve my father's 

 life. We steered for those islands; when, on a sudden, the wind changed, 

 and drove us towards an island, where we were obliged to anchor. We 

 landed to repair our vessel which the storm had damaged. I walked into the 

 interior of the island, which appeared an enchanting retreat. No rocks 

 defended the coast ; it presented an even surface, where you breathed an 

 air >L ft and agreeable. Alleys of orange-trees, planted in all directions, 

 conducte-i to the city, which you perceived from the shore. Fine corals 

 were in the centre of each walk ; and borders of anemones, ranunculuses, 

 jonquils, and tulips were planted on each bank. 



" I kept advancing, when I perceived a man at a distance, who was 

 coming towards me, whose dress much surprised me. I joined him. A 

 long robe, open before, and reaching to the ground, covered a vest of the 



