In the meantime, while we were vieing with each other in grief the
princess cried, 'I burn! I burn!' She found that the fire which
consumed her had at last seized upon her whole body, which made her
still cry 'I burn,' until death had made an end of her intolerable
pains. The effect of that fire was so extraordinary that in a few
moments she was wholly reduced to ashes, like the genie.
How grieved I was at so dismal a spectacle! I had rather all my
life have continued an ape or a dog than to have seen my
benefactress thus miserably perish. The sultan, being afflicted
beyond all that can be imagined, cried out piteously, and beat
himself on his head, until being quite overcome with grief, he
fainted away, which made me fear for his life. In the meantime the
officers came running at the sultan's cries, and with very much ado
brought him to himself again. There was no need for him and me to
give them a long narrative of this adventure, in order to convince
them of their great loss. The two heaps of ashes, into which the
princess and the genie had been reduced, were sufficient
demonstration. The sultan was hardly able to stand, but had to be
supported till he could get to his apartment.
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