mortal in the world, yet I am not so fond of him that I could not resign him to gratify that noble desire of your majesty; but in making this declaration, I have a request to add, without which I cannot resolve to part with him, and perhaps you may not approve of it.'
'Your majesty will not be displeased,' continued the Indian, 'if I tell you that I did not buy this horse, but obtained him of the inventor and maker by giving him my only daughter in marriage, and promising at the same time never to sell him; but, if I parted with him, to exchange him for something that I should like.'
The Indian would have gone on; but at the word 'exchange,' the King of Persia interrupted him. 'I am willing,' said he, 'to give you what you will ask in exchange. You know my kingdom is large, and contains many great, rich, and populous cities; I will give you the choice of whichever you like best, in full sovereignty for the rest of your life.'
This exchange seemed royal and noble to the whole court, but was much below what the Indian proposed to himself. 'I am infinitely obliged to your majesty for the offer you make me,' answered he, 'and cannot thank you enough for your generosity; yet I must beg of you not to be angry with me if I have the boldness to tell you that I cannot resign to you my horse, except on receiving the hand of the princess, your daughter, as my wife; this is the only price at which I can give him up.'
The courtiers could not forbear laughing aloud at this extravagant demand of the Indian; but Prince Firouz Schah, the king's eldest son and presumptive heir to the crown, could not hear it without indignation. The king was of a very different opinion, and thought he might sacrifice the Princess of Persia to the Indian, to satisfy his curiosity. He remained, however, undetermined, considering what he should do.
Prince Firouz Schah, who saw his father hesitate as to what answer he should make, began to fear lest he should comply with the Indian's demand, and looked upon it as injurious not only to the royal dignity and to his sister, but also to himself; therefore, to anticipate his father, he said, 'Sir, I hope your majesty will forgive me for daring to ask you if it is possible that your majesty
