Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales; Folklore -- Arab countries
Morabec having thus instructed prince Zeyn, began his conjuration.
Immediately their eyes were dazzled with a long flash of lightning, which
was followed by a clap of thunder. The whole island was covered with a
hideous darkness, a furious storm of wind blew, a dreadful cry was heard,
the island felt a shock, and there was such an earthquake as that which
Asrasyel is to cause on the day of judgment.
Zeyn was somewhat startled, and began to look upon that noise as a very
ill omen, when Morabec, who knew better than he what to think of it,
began to smile, and said, Be not dismayed, my prince, all goes well. In
short, that very moment the king of the genii appeared in the shape of a
very handsome man; yet there was something of sternness in his air.
As soon as prince Zeyn had made him the compliment he had been taught by
Morabec, the king of the genii, smiling, answered, My son, I loved your
father; and every time he came to pay me his respects, I presented him
with a statue, which he carried away with him. I have no less kindness
for you. I obliged your father, some days before he died, to write that
which you read on the piece of white satin. I promised him to receive you
under my protection, and to give you the ninth statue, which in beauty
surpasses those you have already. I have begun to perform my promise to
him. It was I whom you saw in a dream in the shape of an old man: I
caused you to open the subterraneous place where the urns and the statues
are: I have a great share in all that has befallen you, or rather am the
occasion of it. I know the motive that brought you hither; and you shall
obtain what you desire. Though I had not promised your father to give it,
I would willingly grant it you; but you must first swear to me by all
that is sacred, that you will return to this island, and that you will
bring a maid that is in her fifteenth year, and who has never known man,
nor desired to know any. She must also be perfectly beautiful, and you so
much master of yourself, as not even to desire to enjoy her, as you are
conducting her hither.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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