ing the disorder of
his dress, and the change which sufferings and dejection had made upon
the natural charms of his countenance, they easily distinguished its
sweetness and beauty, and were not able to look at him without feeling
an emotion of the most tender interest.

"What are you doing here, young man?" asked one of the officers.

"Brother!" replied the wise Shaseliman, "you know the proverb: 'Ask
not a stranger who is naked where are his clothes.' Let that answer
for me. I am hungry and thirsty, I am weak and deprived of every
resource."

At this reply one of the officers ran to their beasts of burden, and
taking some venison and bread, brought it to him. As soon as he had
profited by this food, and seemed to have sufficient strength to
continue the conversation,

"Brother!" said one of the officers of the company to him, "we are
interested in your fortune. Would it be indiscreet in us, should we
beg of you to give us some account of your history?"

"Before satisfying you," replied the unfortunate Prince, "answer, if
you please, one question of the greatest consequence to me. Is King
Balavan, your Sovereign, still alive?"

"Do you know the King?"

"Yes. You see before you Shaseliman, his nephew."

"How can you be Shaseliman," replied the officer, "since we know that
his uncle, after delivering him from a dungeon in which he had been
for four years shut up, gave him the command of a province, where it
was impossible but he must have died by the hands of the Infidels?
Besides, we have heard that he was thrown down from the summit of a
high tower by them with many other Mussulmans."

Then the young Prince, in order completely to convince them, entered
into the detail of all his adventures, and of the wonderful manner in
which Providence had preserved his life. At this relation the officers
were struck with astonishment: they prostrated themselves at his feet
and watered his hand with their tears.

"You are King, sire," said they to him, "the son of our rightful
Sovereign, and in all respects worthy of a better fate. But, alas!
what do you come to seek at a Court where you can find nothing but
death? Recollect the cruelties of which you have been the victim--the
treatment you have experienced, and the dangerous snare by which,
under the shadow of power, you were devoted to certain death in the
office to which you were appointed. Fly! Seek the country where the
beautiful Chamsada reigns Queen over the hear