DECLARATION OF LOVE. 
73 
and appearance with that of the enchanted 
scene. 
is tins 
In the centre of the seraglio a splendid pa¬ 
vilion shaded the Grand Seignior, who negli¬ 
gently reclined on costly skins; while the 
lords of his court, habited in their richest at¬ 
tire, were seated at his feet to behold the 
dances of the lovely women of the court in 
all the luxurious display of their light and 
dazzling dresses. These sometimes encir¬ 
cled, and at others glided round the vases of 
tulips, whose beauty they sung. It was not 
seldom that a cloud rested on the sultan’s 
a stern and severe aspect. What! could cha¬ 
grin then enter the soul of that all-powerful 
mortal ? Had he lost one of his provinces ? 
Did he fear the revolt of his fierce janissa¬ 
ries ? Ah no ! two poor slaves alone had 
troubled his heart. He had observed, during 
the gaieties of the feast, a young page pre¬ 
senting a tulip to a beautiful girl who had 
captivated him. The sultan was ignorant of 
their secrets, but a vague feeling of inquie¬ 
tude took possession of his heart—jealousy 
tormented and beset him. But what is the 
jealousy of a sultan, or what are bolts and 
bars, against love ? A look and a flower are 
enough for that wicked god to change a hor¬ 
rid seraglio into a place of delight, and to 
avenge beauty outraged by chains. 
