It would not be reasonable that you should have so great a reward,
and yet run no risk on your part; and what I say to you,' continued
the king, 'I say to all others that shall come after you, that they
may consider beforehand what they undertake.'
The emir, however, accepted the condition, and the king conducted
him to where the princess was. She covered her face as soon as she
saw them come in, and cried out, 'Your majesty surprises me by
bringing with you a man whom I do not know, and by whom my religion
forbids me to let myself be seen.'
'Daughter,' replied the king, 'you need not be scandalized, it is
only one of my emirs who is come to demand you in marriage.'
'It is not, I perceive, the person that you have already given me,
and whose faith is plighted by the ring I wear,' replied the
princess; 'be not offended that I will never marry any other.'
The emir expected the princess would have said or done some
extravagant thing, and was not a little disappointed when he heard
her talk so calmly and rationally; for then he understood what was
really the matter. He dared not explain himself to the king, who
would not have suffered the princess to give her hand to any other
than the person to whom he wished to give her with his own hand.
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