The Ebony Horse
When she dressed the nextfollowing morning, her maids noticed that the princess took more care than usual over dressing and grooming herself. She insisted on having her hair arrangedthat, contrary to her usual habit, the princess was very particular about her toilette, and insisted on her hair being dressed two or three times.times over. "For," she said to herself, "if the prince liked my appearance when he found me asmy appearance was not displeasing to the prince when he saw me in the condition I was, how much more will he admire me when I look my best!be struck with me when he beholds me with all my charms."
Then she placed in her hair the largest and most brilliant diamonds she could find, with a necklace, bracelets and beltgirdle, all of precious stones. And over her shoulders her ladies put a robe of the finest fabricrichest stuff in all the Indies, that no one was allowed to wear except members of the royal family. When she was dressed to her satisfaction,fully dressed according to her wishes, she sent to ask whetherknow if the Prince of Persia was awake and ready to receive her: she wished to visither, as she desired to present herself before him.
When the princess’s messenger entered,princess's messenger entered his room, Prince Firouz Schah was just leaving his room to ask whether he might pay his respects to her mistress. On hearing the princess’s wishes, he immediatelyin the act of leaving it, to inquire if he might be allowed to pay his homage to her mistress: but on hearing the princess's wishes, he at once gave way. "Her will is my law," he said.said, "I am only here to obey her orders."
A few moments later,In a few moments the princess herself appeared. After exchanging the usual compliments, she sat on a sofa and explained why she had not received himappeared, and after the usual compliments had passed between them, the princess sat down on a sofa, and began to explain to the prince her reasons for not giving him an audience in her own rooms.apartments. "Had I done so," she said, "the chief of the eunuchs, the palace attendants, might have interrupted us at any time. He has the right to enter my rooms whenever he pleases, whereas he is forbidden to come here."we might have been interrupted at any hour by the chief of the eunuchs, who has the right to enter whenever it pleases him, whereas this is forbidden ground. I am eager to hear what wonderful accident brought you here. Thatall impatience to learn the wonderful accident which has procured the pleasure of your arrival, and that is why I came to this room,have come to you here, where no one can interrupt. Please begin at onceintrude upon us. Begin then, I entreat you, without delay."
So the prince began at the beginning, and told all the story of the festival of Nedrouz, the New Year celebrationNedrouz held yearly in Persia, and of the splendid spectacles celebrated in its honour. But when he came to the enchanted horse, the princess declared that she could never have imagined anything half so surprising. "Well then," continued the prince, "you can easily understand why my father, the King, who loves all unusual things, desperately wanted to own this horse. Hehow the King my father, who has a passion for all curious things, was seized with a violent desire to possess this horse, and asked the Indian what sum he would take for it.
"The man’sman's answer was absolutely absurd, as you will agree: he asked foragree, when I tell you that it was nothing less than my sister, the princess, in marriage. Everyonethe hand of the princess my sister; but though all the bystanders laughed and mocked, and I was beside myself with rage. To my despair,rage, I saw to my despair that my father could not bring himself to treat this insultingmake up his mind to treat the insolent proposal as it deserved. I tried to argue with him, but in vain. He only begged me to examine the horse hoping, as I well understood, to make me appreciatewith a view (as I quite understood) of making me more sensible of its value."
"To please my father, I mounted the horse, and, without waiting for any instructions from the Indian, turned the peg as I had seen him do. In an instant I was soaring upwards, much quicker than an arrow could fly, and I felt as if I must be getting so near the sky that I should soon hit my head against it! I could see nothing beneath me, and for some time was so confused that I did not even know in what direction I was travelling. At last, when it was growing dark, I found another screw, and on turning it, the horse began slowly to sink towards the earth. I hadwas forced to trust to chance andchance, and to see what fate would bring. It washad in store, and it was already past midnight when I found myself on the roof of this palace. I crept down the little staircase, and went straight towards a light I saw through an open door. Imade directly for a light which I perceived through an open door--I peeped cautiously in, and saw, as you will guess, the eunuchs lying asleep on the floor. I knew the risks I ran, but my need was so great that I paid no attention to them, and crept safely past your guards to the curtain hidingstole safely past your guards, to the curtain which concealed your doorway.
"You know the rest, Princess. All that remains isThe rest, Princess, you know; and it only remains for me to thank you for your kindness andthe kindness you have shown me, and to assure you of my gratitude. By the law of nations, I am already your slave. Only my heart is my ownslave, and I have only my heart, that is my own, to offer you. But what am I saying? My own? Alas, madame, it was yours from the first moment I sawbeheld you!"
His manner left the princess in no doubt about how her beauty had affected himThe air with which he said these words could have left no doubt on the mind of the princess as to the effect of her charms, and the blush which mounted to her face only increased her beauty.
"Prince," she replied as soon as her embarrassment allowedreturned she as soon as her confusion permitted her to speak, "you have given me great pleasure. I followed every detail of your adventures. Even with you sitting safelythe greatest pleasure, and I have followed you closely in all your adventures, and though you are positively sitting before me, I trembled at the dangers you faced high ineven trembled at your danger in the upper regions of the air! Let me tell you how muchsay what a debt I owe to the chance that broughthas led you to my house. Nowhere could have offeredhouse; you could have entered none which would have given you a warmer welcome. As forto your being a slave, of course that is only a joke. Surely my welcome has shownmerely a joke, and my reception must itself have assured you that you are as free here as at your father’sfather's court. As to your heart," continued she in tones of encouragement, "surely you gave it long ago to some princess who deservesI am quite sure that must have been disposed of long ago, to some princess who is well worthy of it, and I could not think of being the cause of your unfaithfulness to her."
Prince Firouz Schah was about to protest that no lady had any prior claim on his heart. Butthere was no lady with any prior claims, but he was stopped by the entrance of one of the princess’s attendants entered andprincess's attendants, who announced that dinner was served. After all, neither of themserved, and, after all, neither was sorry for the interruption.
Dinner was laid in a magnificent room, with delicious fruits covering the table. During the meal,apartment, and the table was covered with delicious fruits; while during the repast richly dressed girls sang softly and sweetly to the accompaniment of stringedstringed instruments. After the prince and princess had finished, they passed into a small room decoratedhung with blue and gold hangings. It looked out over a garden full ofgold, looking out into a garden stocked with flowers and arbutus trees, quite different from any any that were to be found in Persia.
"Princess," observed the young man, "untiltill now I had always believed that Persia could boast finer palaces and more lovely gardens than any kingdom upon earth. But my eyes have been opened, and I am beginning to see thatbegin to perceive that, wherever there is a great king he will surround himself with buildings worthy of him."
"Prince," replied the Princess of Bengal, "I have no idea what a Persian palace is like, so I am unable to make comparisons. I do not wish to belittledepreciate my own palace, but I can assure you that it is very poor beside my father the King’s palace. You will agree when you go there to greet him, as I hope you will soonthat of the King my father, as you will agree when you have been there to greet him, as I hope you will shortly do."
The princess hoped to arrangeNow the princess hoped that, by bringing about a meeting between the prince and her father. She hopedfather, the King would be so impressed by the young man’sstruck with the young man's distinguished air and fine mannersmanners, that he would offer him his daughter in marriage.to wife. But the reply of the Prince of Persia to her suggestion was not quite what she wished.
"Madame," he said, "visitingby taking advantage of your proposal to visit the palace of the King of Bengal as you suggest would satisfy my curiosity and show my respect for him. But surely you understandBengal, I should satisfy not merely my curiosity, but also the sentiments of respect with which I regard him. But, Princess, I am persuaded that you will feel with me, that I cannot appear before such a great ruler without attendants suitedpossibly present myself before so great a sovereign without the attendants suitable to my rank. He would think me a mere fortune-seekeran adventurer."
"If that is all," she answered, "you can get as many attendants here as you please. There are plenty of Persian merchants, and as for money, my treasury is always open to you. Take what you please."
Prince Firouz Schah guessed what prompted so much kindness on the part of the princess, and was much touched by it. Still his passion, which increased every moment, did not make him forget his duty. So he replied without hesitation:
"Princess, I cannot thank you enough for your kind offer.I do not know, Princess, how to express my gratitude for your obliging offer, which I would accept at once, butonce if it were not for the recollection of all the uneasiness the King my father must be terribly worried about mesuffering on my account. I would indeed be unworthy of all the love he showers on me if I did not returnshould be unworthy indeed of all the love he showers upon me, if I did not return to him at the first possible moment. While I enjoy the companyFor, while I am enjoying the society of the most amiable of all princesses, he is, I am sure,quite convinced, plunged in the deepest grief. He hasgrief, having lost all hope of seeing me again. I am sure you understand. To stay away a moment longer than necessary would be ungrateful—perhaps even a crime. Howwill understand my position, and will feel that to remain away one instant longer than is necessary would not only be ungrateful on my part, but perhaps even a crime, for how do I know my absence willif my absence may not break his heart?
"But," continued the prince, "once I have obeyedhaving obeyed the voice of my conscience, I shall count the moments until, with your permission, I can gowhen, with your gracious permission, I may present myself before the King of Bengal as a prince rather than a wanderer and ask to marry youBengal, not as a wanderer, but as a prince, to implore the favour of your hand. My father has always told me I shall be free to choose whom I marryinformed me that in my marriage I shall be left quite free, but I am sure that once I describe your generosity, he will wish what I wishpersuaded that I have only to describe your generosity, for my wishes to become his own."
The Princess of Bengal was too reasonable to reject Prince Firouz Schah’s explanation. But his intention to leave at once upset her greatly: she feared his feelings for her would fade as soon as he left.not to accept the explanation offered by Prince Firouz Schah, but she was much disturbed at his intention of departing at once, for she feared that, no sooner had he left her, than the impression she had made on him would fade away. SheSo she made one more effort to keep him. Afterhim, and after assuring him that she fullyentirely approved of his eagernessanxiety to see his father, she father, begged him to stay with her another day or two.give her a day or two more of his company.
TheIn common politeness the prince could hardly refuse without being rude. The princess thought upthis request, and the princess set about inventing every kind of amusement, so successfullyamusement for him, and succeeded so well that two months passed almost unnoticed in balls, shows and hunting. She loved hunting, provided there was no dangerslipped by almost unnoticed, in balls, spectacles and in hunting, of which, when unattended by danger, the princess was passionately fond. AtBut at last, one day, he saiddeclared seriously that he could neglect his duty no longer, and begged her not to delay him further. He promised to returnentreated her to put no further obstacles in his way, promising at the same time to return, as soon as he could, with all the magnificence due to her rank and his own.both to her and to himself.
"Princess," he added, "perhaps you think I am one ofit may be that in your heart you class me with those false lovers whose love cannot survive being apart. If so, you do me an injustice. If I were not afraiddevotion cannot stand the test of absence. If you do, you wrong me; and were it not for fear of offending you, I would begbeseech you to come with me: Ime, for my life can only be happy happy when passed with you. As for your reception at the Persian Court, it will be as warm as your merits deserve. As for; and as for what concerns the King of Bengal, if he refuses our marriage, he must care much less for your happinesshe must be much more indifferent to your welfare than you have led me to believebelieve if he does not give his consent to our marriage."
The princess could find no words to answernot find words in which to reply to the arguments of the Prince of Persia’s arguments. ButPersia, but her silence and and her downcast eyes spoke for her:her, and declared that she had no objection to travelling with him.accompanying him on his travels.
Her only concernThe only difficulty that occurred to her was that Prince Firouz Schah did not know how to controlmanage the horse, and they might face the same dangershe dreaded lest they might find themselves in the same plight as before. TheBut the prince soothed her fears so successfullysuccessfully, that she soon thought only of arranging their flight in such secrecyhad no other thought than to arrange for their flight so secretly, that no one in the palace wouldshould suspect it.
This was done. Early the next morning, whiledone, and early the following morning, when the whole palace was wrapped in sleep, she crept up to the roof. Thestole up on to the roof, where the prince was already waiting for her, his horse’s head turnedawaiting her, with his horse's head towards Persia. He mounted first and helped the princess up behind him. Whenbehind; then, when she was firmly seated, her hands grippingwith her hands holding tightly to his belt, he touched the screw. Thescrew, and the horse began to leave the earth rapidly behind.quickly behind him.
The horse travelled at its usualHe travelled with his accustomed speed, and Prince Firouz Schah guided him so well that in two and a half hours afterhours and a half from the time of starting, he saw the capital of Persia lying beneath him. The prince decided to land at a country house just outside town, rather thanHe determined to alight neither in the great square where he had started or at the Sultan’s palacefrom which he had started, nor in the Sultan's palace, but in a country house at a little distance from the town. Here he showed the princess a beautiful suite of rooms. Herooms, and begged her to rest while he told his father they had arrivedrest, while he informed his father of their arrival, and prepared a public reception worthy of her rank. Then he ordered a horse to be saddled, and set out.
All the way through the streets he was welcomed with shouts of joy by the people, who had long lost all hope of seeing him again. AtOn reaching the palace, he found the Sultan surrounded by his ministers, all dressedclad in the deepest mourning. Hismourning, and his father almost went out of his mind with surprise and delight at the mere sound of his son’sson's voice. When he had calmed down a little, he begged the prince to relate his adventures.
The prince immediately seized his opportunity and told howat once seized the opening thus given him, and told the whole story of his treatment by the Princess of Bengal had treated him. He did not even hideBengal, not even concealing the fact that she had fallen in love with him. "And, Your Majesty," the prince concluded, "I gaveSire," ended the prince, "having given my royal word that you would not refuse toyour consent to our marriage.marriage, I persuaded her to return with me on the Indian’sIndian's horse. I have left her in one of your Highness's country houses, where she is waiting anxiously for assuranceto be assured that I have not promised in vain."
As he said this,this the prince was about to throw himself at the Sultan’s feet. His father stopped him and embraced him again, sayingfeet of the Sultan, but his father prevented him, and embracing him again, said eagerly:
"My son, My son, not only do I gladly consent to your marriage with the Princess of Bengal. I will hurryBengal, but I will hasten to pay my respects to her and thank her myself for all she has done forher, and to thank her in my own person for the benefits she has conferred on you. I will then bring her back with me, and make all arrangements for the wedding to be celebrated todayto-day."
So the Sultan gave orders that the people should take off their mourning clotheshabits of mourning worn by the people should be thrown off and that there should be a concert of drums, trumpets and cymbals. He also ordered the Indian to be taken from prisonAlso that the Indian should be taken from prison, and brought before him.
His commands were obeyed, and the Indian was led into his presence, surrounded by guards. "I have kept you locked up," said the Sultan, "so that if my son was lost, you would pay with your life.in case my son was lost, your life should pay the penalty. He has now returned; so take your horse, and be gonebegone for ever."
The Indian hurried out of the Sultan’s presence. Outside, he askedhastily quitted the presence of the Sultan, and when he was outside, he inquired of the man who had released him fromtaken him out of prison where the prince had really been all this timetime, and what he had been doing. They told him the whole story:, and how the Princess of Bengal was at the country palace, waiting for the Sultan’s consent. At once the Indian thought of a way to avenge his treatmenteven then awaiting in the country palace the consent of the Sultan, which at once put into the Indian's head a plan of revenge for the treatment he had experienced. He wentGoing straight to the country house. He told the doorkeeperhouse, he informed the doorkeeper who was left in charge that that he had been sent by the Sultan and and by the Prince of Persia had sent him to bring the princess to the palaceto fetch the princess on the enchanted horse.horse, and to bring her to the palace.
The doorkeeper recognised the Indian and knew the Sultan had imprisoned himknew the Indian by sight, and was of course aware that nearly three months earlier. Seeing him free, he assumed his story was true and readily took him to the Princess. She heardbefore he had been thrown into prison by the Sultan; and seeing him at liberty, the man took for granted that he was speaking the truth, and made no difficulty about leading him before the Princess of Bengal; while on her side, hearing that he had come from the prince and gladly agreed to go with himprince, the lady gladly consented to do what he wished.
Delighted byThe Indian, delighted with the success of his scheme, the Indian mounted the horse and helped the princess climb up behind him. Hemounted the horse, assisted the princess to mount behind him, and turned the peg just asat the very moment that the prince was leaving the palace in Schiraz for the country house, closely followedfollowed closely by the Sultan and all the court. Knowing this, the Indian deliberately steered the horse right above the city to makecity, in order that his revenge for his unjust imprisonment imprisonment might be all the quicker and sweeter.
When the Sultan of Persia saw the horse and its riders, he stopped short in astonishment and horror. He burstwith astonishment and horror, and broke out into oaths and curses, which left the Indian unmoved: he knewthe Indian heard quite unmoved, knowing that he was perfectly safe from pursuit. The Sultan was humiliated and furious. But that was nothing beside Prince Firouz Schah’s feelings as he watched the woman he loved carried swiftlyBut mortified and furious as the Sultan was, his feelings were nothing to those of Prince Firouz Schah, when he saw the object of his passionate devotion being borne rapidly away. And while he was struck speechless with grief and remorse at not having guarded her better, she vanished swiftly out of his sight. What was he to do? Should he follow his father into the palace, and give his despair free rein therethere give reins to his despair? Both his love and his courage alike forbade it; and he continued towards the countryhis way to the palace.