As soon as the prince came into the king's presence, he bowed and
kissed the ground. The king, who, of all that had hitherto
presumptuously exposed their lives on this occasion, had not seen
one worthy to cast his eyes upon, felt real compassion for Prince
Camaralzaman on account of the danger he was about to undergo. But
as he thought him more deserving than ordinary, he showed him more
honour, and made him come and sit by him. 'Young man,' said he, 'I
can hardly believe that you, at this age, can have acquired
experience enough to dare attempt the cure of my daughter. I wish
you may succeed; and would give her to you in marriage with all my
heart, with the greatest joy, more willingly than I should have
done to others that have offered themselves before you; but I must
declare to you at the same time, with great concern, that if you do
not succeed in your attempt, notwithstanding your noble appearance
and your youth you must lose your head.'
'Sir,' replied the prince, 'I am under infinite obligations to your
majesty for the honour you design me, and the great goodness you
show to a stranger; but I desire your majesty to believe that I
would not have come from so remote a country as I have done, the
name of which perhaps may be unknown in your dominions, if I had
not been certain of the cure I propose.
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