I also
made some for the people of best quality in the city, which gained
me great reputation and regard.
As I paid court very constantly to the king, he said to me one day,
'Sinbad, I love thee; and all my subjects who know thee treat thee
according to my example. I have one thing to demand of thee, which
thou must grant.'
'Sir,' answered I, 'there is nothing but I will do, as a mark of my
obedience to your majesty, whose power over me is absolute.'
'I have a mind thou shouldst marry,' replied he, 'that so thou
mayst stay in my dominion, and think no more of thy own country.'
I dared not resist the prince's will, and so he gave me one of the
ladies of his court, a noble, beautiful, and rich lady. The
ceremonies of marriage being over, I went and dwelt with the lady,
and for some time we lived together in perfect harmony. I was not,
however, very well satisfied with my condition, and therefore
designed to make my escape on the first occasion, and to return to
Bagdad, which my present settlement, how advantageous soever, could
not make me forget.
While I was thinking on this, the wife of one of my neighbours,
with whom I had contracted a very close friendship, fell sick and
died.
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