“My dear lady,” then replied the young man, “have a moment’s patience.” At these words he shut the koran, put it into a rich case, and laid it in the niche. I took this opportunity to observe him very accurately, and I perceived so much grace and beauty in his countenance, that I felt an emotion I had been, till now, a stranger to. He made me sit down near him, and before he began his relation, I could not refrain from saying to him, with an air by which he might discover the sentiments he had inspired; “It is impossible for any one to wait with more impatience than I do, for the explanation of so many surprising things, which have struck my sight, from the first step I set in this town; nor can my curiosity be too soon gratified: speak, I conjure you, dear object of my soul; tell me by what miracle you alone are alive amidst so many persons, who seem to have died in such an uncommon manner.” “You have made it very apparent, madam, by the prayer you have addressed to Him,” replied the young man, “that you are not ignorant of the true God. I am now about to inform you of a remarkable instance of his greatness and power. You must know, that this city was the capital of a very powerful kingdom, of the same name and title as that of the king, my father. This prince, as well as all his court, the inhabitants of this city, and also all his other subjects, were of the religion of Magi, idolaters of fire, and of Nardoun, the ancient king of the giants, who rebelled against God. “Although both my father and mother were idolaters, I had in my infancy the good fortune to have a governess, or nurse, who was of the true religion: she was thoroughly acquainted with the koran, could repeat it by art, and explain it perfectly well. “My prince,” she would often say to me, “there is only one true God; take care how you acknowledge and adore any other.” She taught me also to read the Arabic language, and the book which she gave me for this purpose was the koran. I was no sooner capable of understanding it, than she explained to me all the particular points of that admirable book: she made me enter thoroughly into the spirit of it, entirely unknown to my father, and every one besides. She at length died; but it was not before she had given me all the instruction that was necessary to convince me most completely of the truths of the Mussulman religion. After her death, I remained constant and firm in the sentiments and opinions she had instilled into me; and I felt a perfect abhorrence for the god Nardown, and the worship of fire. “About three years and a few months ago, a voice, like thunder, was heard on a sudden all over the town, so very distinctly, that no individual lost a single word. The words were these: “Inhabitants, abandon the worship of Nardoun, and of fire; and adore the only God, who shows mercy.”