376 The Adventures of Prince Hassan. [OcT. 



The princess was astonished to behold so grand a city, and one built so 

 magnificently. The walls were distinguished, by which it was surrounded, 

 by the lamps. Every tree in the country was lighted up the same : the hills 

 and groves appeared like brilliant stars, whose soft light did not offend the 

 eyes. This sight astonished the princess ; but her heart was not at ease. 

 The idea of Prince Hassan was continually before her ; she was quite dis- 

 tressed not to have heard the end of his adventures. Although she had not 

 seen him, she could not but be interested for him. She imagined that a 

 prince, on whom the fairies had bestowed such gifts, must be amiable: she 

 wished much to see him. Alas ! doubtless, that desire would have been 

 diminished, had she been aware of the risk she ran, and that the sight of 

 him would have cost her dear. She did not know how to break it to her 

 father, in order that she might return to the Dark Tower. And then of 

 what use would have been this voyage, as it was absolutely forbidden to 

 take a light outside the island ? 



Walking one day in a grove which was at the bottom of her father s 

 garden, she was reflecting on what Prince Hassan had related, and how she 

 had been destined by a fairy to pass her solitary life in the Dark Tower, 

 until a terrible monster, whose aspect killed whoever looked at it, should 

 come to her deliverance. She could not but think that the prince was her 

 liberator. Her father, who consulted the destinies every day, to know the 

 time when his daughter's perils should be at an end, did not understand, 

 more than herself, what the fairy meant by a monster who killed all that 

 looked at it ; but, notwithstanding, the oracle had proclaimed that the time 

 had arrived. It was this which alarmed her so much. " What!" said she, 

 *' is this prince whom 1 figure to myself as so amiable is he the monster 

 J am threatened with? Why do I wish to see him ? Can I doubt the 

 fact, since the oracle has said so ?" It was thus she tormented herself; 

 and she had almost given up the wish to return to the Dark Tower, when 

 she found herself at the entrance of a temple: it was dedicated to Mor- 

 pheus. A magnificent portico conducted to a vestibule of marble and 

 porphyry : from thence you entered the temple. The most delicious per- 

 fumes were for ever burning before the statue of the god, who appeared at 

 the upper end, seated, and resting on one arm. Banks of turf, intermingled 

 with beautiful flowers, invited repose. Poppies, the only gifts offered to 

 this deity, covered a table which was in the middle of the temple. It was 

 only necessary to offer them up, when you perceived a soft languor creep 

 over you, which it was impossible to resist. You yielded insensibly to 

 sleep, which closed your eyelids ; and then whatever you most wished to 

 know appeared in a dream. The princess presented the poppies; and, at 

 the instant, perceiving her knees to tremble under her, she lay down on a 

 bed of turf sprinkled with violets, and fell asleep, hoping to behold Prince 

 Hassan. 



Scarcely had the god of sleep closed her eyes, when the prince appeared 

 before her. Her surprise to see him so different from a monster was so 

 great, that she awoke. " Oh, ye gods !" cried she, " can a mortal appear 

 so amiable ?" She wished to sleep again, and offered anew poppies to 

 Morpheus. But in vain; that favour is granted but only once : it was 

 useless. Morpheus, insensible to her intreaties, dozed even at hearing them. 

 She left the temple, burning with a desire to sec the prince. 

 .. JLove had now entered her breast ; she was no longer mistress of herself ; 

 she thought of nothing but the prince; she followed no certain path, but 



