1827.] The Adventures of Prince Hassan. 379 



quit a place where ho had so often enjoyed the conversation of the prin- 

 cess. , 



These- pirates did not go long unpunished for their villainy ; for scarcely 

 had they passed the dark zone which surrounded the Island of Night, but, 

 at the first rays of light, they fell dead at the sight of Prince Hassan. That 

 prince was much to be pitied. He was bound to the ship's mast, and in 

 danger of perishing of hunger, it not being possible for him to be rescued by 

 any mortal ; for whoever saw him must die immediately. The winds and 

 waves drove the ship at their pleasure. At length it struck on a bank of 

 sand, and stuck fast. He then expected nothing but death. The thoughts 

 of the princess still occupied him, notwithstanding the impending fate- 

 which he perceived approaching. Already was he so oppressed with lan- 

 guor, that his sight failed him, his weakness increased, and he remained 

 motionless. This swoon lasted for a long time. At length he came to him- 

 self; but what was his surprise, on his revival, to find himself in a meadow ! 

 He was yet so feeble that he had not strength to rise. He was endeavour- 

 ing in vain to make out by what means he had been conveyed thither, 

 when he perceived a female approaching him, carrying a basket of fruit. 

 She came near him, and thus addressed him : " Endeavour, unfortunate 

 prince, to prolong your days, which the gods protect, in spite of the cruelty 

 of the fairy Noirjabarbe." At that hated name, Prince Hassan thought he 

 should have relapsed into his former state of weakness : but the unknown 

 continued her discourse. " I am a fairy," said she ; " and 1 dwell on a 

 rock near where your vessel ran ashore. I saw you from the top of the 

 rock, where I was walking that day, and, having pitied the state in which 

 you were, I released you, and brought you here. My art has acquainted 

 me with all your trouble : I know your most secret thoughts ; I know you 

 love a princess, whom the fates forbid you seeing, for fear of depriving her 

 of life : but t also know that a day will arrive when your griefs will have 

 an end." This hope reanimated the strength of Prince Hassan. He arose, 

 and threw himself at the feet of his benefactress. " Rise, prince," said 

 she ; " you cannot remain here longer than one day." The fairy then 

 conducted him to the rock, near which his vessel had run aground. " I 

 cannot," said she, "free you from the charm which the fairy Noirjabarbe 

 has imposed on you; but this wand, which I will give you, will free you 

 from many evils you would endure without it. It has the power of putting 

 to sleep those on whom you wish it to operate. You have but to turn it 

 three time?, and sleep will immediately close the eyes of those you wish to 

 affect; and turning it back again, they will awaken as quickly. By this 

 means your appearance, so fatal to all mortals, will cease to be so, when 

 you wish it as they only perish who see you. But this is not all. This 

 vessel, in which you have been wrecked, obedient to your orders, will con- 

 duct you to any place you wish to go to. Go, prince ! faithful to your 

 vows, remember that the god of love will never abandon those who are 

 truly attached to his service." 



As Prince Hassan thought of nothing but the princess of the Island of 

 Night, he ordered his vessel to bear him to the Dark Tower, where, in 

 spite of the eternal darkness which surrounded it, he would at least have 

 the pleasure of conversing with the princess. He landed at the tower, and, 

 casting himself into the sea, swam to a grove which was on the sea-shore of 

 the Island of Night. He wandered from thicket to thicket, till he came 

 to a place where he perceived a tomb, oia which he read the following 

 inscription : 



3 C 2 



