'
The prince answered, 'I know not, madam, whether you be in jest or
no; but for my own part I seriously declare, before these ladies
your sisters, that from this moment I heartily accept your offer,
as my lady and mistress. Nor will I pretend to have any power over
your actions.' At these words my sisters changed colour, and I
could perceive afterwards that they did not love me as formerly.
We had come into the Persian Gulf, not far from Balsora, where I
hoped, considering the fair wind, we might arrive the day
following; but in the night, when I was asleep, my sisters watched
their time and threw me overboard. They did the same to the prince,
who was drowned. I swam for some minutes in the water; but by good
fortune, or rather miracle, I soon felt ground. I went towards a
black place, that, so far as I could discern in the dark, seemed to
be land, and actually was a flat on the coast. When day came, I
found it to be a desert island, lying about twenty miles from
Balsora. I soon dried my clothes in the sun; and as I walked along
I found several sorts of fruit, and likewise fresh water, which
gave me some hope of preserving my life.
I laid myself down in the shade and soon after I saw a winged
serpent, very large and long, coming towards me, wriggling to the
right and to the left, and hanging out his tongue, which made me
think he was ill.
Pages:
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276