The princess made
me go into a bath, which was the most sumptuous that could be
imagined; and when I came forth, instead of my own clothes, I found
another very costly suit, which I did not esteem so much for its
richness as because it made me look worthy to be in her company. We
sat down on a sofa covered with rich tapestry, with cushions to
lean upon of the rarest Indian brocade; and soon after she covered
a table with several dishes of delicate meats. We ate together, and
passed the remaining part of the day with much satisfaction.
The next day, as she contrived every means to please me, she
brought in, at dinner, a bottle of old wine, the most excellent
that ever was tasted; and out of complaisance she drank some part
of it with me. When my head grew hot with the agreeable liquor,
'Fair princess,' said I, 'you have been too long thus buried alive:
follow me, and enjoy the real day, from which you have been
deprived so many years, and abandon this false light that you have
here.'
'Prince,' replied she, with a smile, 'stop this discourse; if out
of ten days you will grant me nine, and resign the last to the
genie, the fairest day that ever was would be nothing in my
esteem.
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