Sebastian flew to their camp; he enquired for the Prince of Persia and was shewn a tent strictly guarded, where the soldiers delivered up their swords and led him in. Seated on the ground in a posture of sullen despair, he beheld Abbas; the Prince raised his eyes, the lightning that flashed from them announced his error: “what, traitor? escaped?” he started up as he spoke, and would have rushed upon his deliverer, but Sebastian wrested his arm, exclaiming in a voice that made itself obeyed, “hold Prince! there are some things which not even a friend may pardon:--I _am_ your friend still.” At this instant the tent was crouded with Persian officers and soldiers; some fell at their beloved monarch’s feet, some pressed forward to kiss his hand, while all expressed, in confused sentences, admiration of Sebastian. Abbas eagerly inquired the meaning of these eulogiums. His royal father’s chief equerry, who had been present during the strange avowal of Maimuna, hastened to inform him, that one of the officers who had assisted in seizing the Christian, recollected a paper which, had been found on the page, and which though directed to Sir Anthony Shirley, he carried to the Sophi: this paper contained Sebastian’s narrative to the ambassador of his intended enterprize, and its motives. The Sophi astonished and bewildered sent for Shirley, and by his advice caused the man to be sought for, who had interpreted between the knight and the Turk; this man’s evidence was in strict conformity with the contents of the letter: nothing remained but to elucidate the mystery of Sebastian’s female page. Maimuna was sent for; it was then, that wild with despair at having caused so much horror, the trembling girl sunk on her knees, and confessed that a hopeless passion for the Prince had prompted her to assume a disguise, and seek the protection of one with whom she thought herself assured of seeing Abbas: she protested that her wishes had not gone beyond that of ever being near him, and perhaps of succouring him if wounded. His apparent unobservance of her, (for how often does love thus painfully blind us to what we wish to see!) had persuaded her that she might be seen by him under any form without being recognized; since however he had discovered her, since it was Abbas who deemed her guilty of an unpardonable crime, she was willing to expiate her fault, and end her grief with her life. This extraordinary recital was accompanied by an emotion too powerful for art to assume; her tears and blushes while she spoke of Prince Abbas, bore conviction to the Sophi, who pitying so excessive a passion, and moved by the memory of her dead father’s services, granted her forgiveness, and commanded all mention of her disguise to cease amongst his attendants.