Heaven has only
blest me with one daughter, the Princess Haiatalnefous whose beauty
cannot be better matched than with a prince of your rank and
accomplishments. Instead of going home, stay and marry her from my
hand, with my crown, which I resign in your favour. It is time for
me to rest, and nothing could be a greater pleasure to me in my
retirement than to see my people ruled by so worthy a successor to
my throne.'
The King of the Isle of Ebony's generous offer to bestow his only
daughter in marriage, and with her his kingdom, on the Princess
Badoura, put her into unexpected perplexity. She thought it would
not become a princess of her rank to undeceive the king, and to own
that she was not Prince Camaralzaman, but his wife, when she had
assured him that she was he himself, whose part she had hitherto
acted so well. She was also afraid refuse the honour he offered
her, lest, as he was much bent upon the marriage, his kindness
might turn to aversion and hatred, and he might attempt something
even against her life. Besides, she was not sure whether she might
not find Prince Camaralzaman in the court of King Schahzaman his
father.
These considerations, added to the prospect of obtaining a kingdom
for the prince her husband, in case she found him again, determined
her to accept the proposal of King Armanos, and marry his daughter;
so after having stood silent for some minutes, she with blushes,
which the king took for a sign of modesty, answered, 'Sir, I am
infinitely obliged to your majesty for your good opinion of me, for
the honour you do me, and the great favour you offer me, which I
cannot pretend to merit, and dare not refuse.
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