34 o THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



servant with low prostrations made known that the son of the 

 prime minister of a neighboring prince had arrived. So soon as 

 the handsome youth had dismounted, he was ceremoniously wel- 

 comed, and the cause of his visit inquired into. He answered 

 that the fame of the young girl's beauty had reached his province, 

 and he had hastened hither to ask for her hand in marriage. 

 Greatly overjoyed, the proud father at once gave his consent, and 

 ordered the attendants to summon his daughter ; but the young 

 knight interposed, saying that he must return without delay, and 

 wished his bride to accompany him. With courteous mien he 

 added that all necessary arrangements could be equally well 

 carried out upon arriving at his father's house — such as the 

 dower, wedding gifts, and everything relating to the marriage 

 ceremony. No pomp or pageant would lack in fit magnificence 

 by being postponed a little later, and the bride should be heralded 

 by flowers, torches, and the marriage song ; but their immediate 

 departure was inevitable. 



For a moment the lordly father was silent and embarrassed 

 by doubts ; but fearing that he might lose so brilliant a fortune 

 for his only child, he gave his full consent. Within an hour 

 the blushing girl, in bridal robes and splendid draperies, came 

 through the outspread inner doors, and stood in all the " alarm 

 of beauty and troubled pride," ready for the journey. Her wait- 

 ing maids and servants, who were to accompany her, clustered 

 around her, wondering whence sprang all this blaze of wealth in 

 so short a space of time. 



In a moment the hago (palanquin) for the bride was brought 

 forth, and before she and her maids could realize the fact, the 

 hago, the horsemen, and the courtly suite were in motion. This 

 time the palanquins of the bride and retinue of women took the 

 precedence and headed the rest, as with joyous music, and heralded 

 by the blare of trumpets and roll of drums, the procession left the 

 minister's door. It seemed not long before the bridal cavalcade 

 drew up before a palatial building. The young groom sprang 

 from his saddle, and, hastening to the hago of his bride, softly 

 announced that this was his dwelling, and requested her to step 

 out and enter the guest-chamber. She did so, while shadowy 

 servitors bowed low within the halls as they entered. The bride 

 said nothing, but opened her soft eyes half in fright, and then 

 with wonder and admiration, at the beauty of the palace. Stately 

 halls opened into still statelier chambers. Such unrivaled mag- 

 nificence! — carved cedar, gold lacquer, and vessels of solid gold. 

 In one fairy room, a mimic glade and shady forest with branching 

 stems interlaced, recalled to her the woodland walks at home, 

 while the very air seemed laden with the sweet odor of blossoms 

 and wild flowers she used to gather. 



