1827.] The Adventures of Prince Hassan. 375 



new tempest drove us from our course. Our vessel, broken by the waves, 

 sunk ; and we endeavoured to save our lives by swimming; towards an 

 island we perceived at a distance. But oh, ye gods ! rather a thousand 

 times we had all been swallowed up, than to land on that fatal shore ! All 

 my companions were butchered by the savages who inhabit that shore. I 

 saw their biood caught in bowls, to serve as a repast for these barbarians : 

 myself they reserved as a feast for their king. Already were all the people 

 assembled in a grove destined for their festivities ; already their king, with 

 his arm raised, a poniard in his hand, was about to stab me, when suddenly 

 he fell dead at my feet. The savages regarded this prodigy with astonish- 

 ment; but they all experienced the same fate : I saw them all expire on 

 the spot. I armed myself with speed, fearing I might be pursued by 

 others, and hid myself in the forest. There, reflecting on my misfortunes > 

 I recollected a box which my father had charged me not to open till a year 

 after my departure. I reckoned the time, and finding that the year had 

 that day expired, 1 opened it." 



The princess of the Island of Night, hearing the noise of drums, fifes, 

 and trumpets, interrupted Prince Hassan. " Sensible of your misfortunes," 

 said she, " I wait with impatience the end of your tale. But the king, my 

 father, whose barge I hear dashing through the waves, obliges me to post- 

 pone it for the present. Enter, prince, into this cabinet ; and allow me to 

 flatter myself that, as soon as the king shall depart, you will not refuse me 

 the detail of a fate I feel so inclined to pity/' The princess advanced on 

 the esplanade of the Dark Tower to her father. " Come, my daughter," 

 said he, " your misfortunes are ended. The gods, whom I consult daily, 

 have at length declared that there is nothing farther to fear. Come, and 

 embrace a father, who has wished for this moment so long." 



The princess descended into the barge to her father : they tenderly 

 embraced, but without seeing each other ; for an eternal darkness reigned 

 around the tower. They then proceeded towards the island, to the noise 

 of instruments, and acclamations of the people, who lined the shore, and 

 made the air resound with their songs and rejoicing. The princess would 

 rather have remained a little longer, to hear the rest of the adventures of 

 Prince Hassan : but there were no means of discovering it to her father 

 for the oracle had threatened the most terrible punishment if ever she 

 received any one in the tower. She landed on the Island of Night. Her 

 eyes, for the first time, beheld the light. Large and magnificent vases of 

 bronze, filled with a liquid that burned for ever without being consumed, 

 lighted up the shores of this island : they were placed upon lofty columns 

 of marble, at equal distances, and quite round the island. Without these 

 fires, an eternal obscurity reigned. The princess was conducted to the city 

 by an avenue of pines, whose branches were hung with the same kind of 

 lamps, which never were extinguished. She arrived at the gate, which 

 was lighted up in the same manner, and entered her father's palace, which 

 was of the finest architecture in the world. Large vases of fire were placed 

 on the roof of the palace, which entirely illuminated it : the same with 

 respect to the gardens, where they burned continually. They led the prin- 

 cess up a terrace which was near the palace, from whence you might behold 

 the whole island. The art of the fairy Protectrice of this kingdom had, 

 by these lamps, corrected the defects of nature, which had refused the gift 

 of the sun to this island. 



