What would not the world
say of my fickleness, if, after such great fatigues and dangers as
I have undergone on this account, I should abandon the enterprise?
Even your majesty would soon lose that esteem you have conceived
for me. If I must die, sir, I shall die with the satisfaction of
not having lost your esteem after I have merited it. I beseech your
majesty therefore to keep me no longer impatient to display the
certainty of my art.'
Then the king commanded the officer who had the custody of the
princess to introduce Prince Camaralzaman into her apartment: but
before he would let him go, he reminded him once more that he was
at liberty to renounce his design; yet the prince paid no heed,
but, with astonishing resolution and eagerness, followed the
officer.
When they came to a long gallery, at the end of which was the
princess's apartment, the prince, who saw himself so near the
object of the wishes which had occasioned him so many tears, pushed
on, and got before the officer.
The officer, redoubling his pace, with much ado got up with him.
'Whither away so fast?' cried he, taking him by the arm; 'you
cannot get in without me: and it would seem that you have a great
desire for death thus to run to it headlong.
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