A raja of Hindoostan has a beautiful daughter, named Lalla Rookh, anglicé tulip cheek, with whom a neighbouring prince falls in love, and the father consents to the match. They are betrothed to each other, but the nuptials are put off for some years.
In this interval, the emperor of Hindoostan quarrels with his favourite sultana, who, presuming upon her beauty, had treated him with disrespect, and he threatens to degrade her from the command of the haram. She acknowledges her error, but requests him to forbear the execution of his threats, till such time as he shall find a lady handsomer than herself to supply her place. He consents, and sends his prime vizier to travel in search of a superior beauty, telling him, that unless he finds the desired object, he shall no longer enjoy his high office.
The vizier departs, and, after long travel and vain enquiries, is returning home, resolved to sacrifice his place rather than endure more fatigue; when passing by the capital of Lalla Rookh’s father, he sees her, and finds her more charming than the coquettish queen.
He returns, and informs the emperor; who sends an embassy to the raja, demanding his daughter in marriage. The raja refuses, on pretence that his religion will not allow him to form a family alliance with one of a different belief. The emperor enraged, collects his forces, and marches against the raja; who, unable to oppose in the field, retires to his fortress, which is besieged. When the place was nearly reduced, the emperor sends his vizier with an offer of peace, which is refused; but one of his attendants takes the portrait of Lalla Rookh from the reflection of her face in a fountain, as she looked out of a window.
The emperor, on receiving the picture, is more in love than ever; and once more, being unwilling to endanger the loss of his charmer by an assault, sends his vizier to offer terms, and accompanies him in the disguise of an attendant, hoping to see Lalla Rookh. While the vizier is in audience with the raja, he retires, and sits on the margin of the fountain where the painter had taken the portrait. No reflection of his mistress appears, but some beautiful fish are swimming in it. The emperor is absorbed in contemplation, and from absence of mind throws the pearls of his rosary one by one into the water.
While he is thus employed, a female domestic perceives him, and, from his making so light of such precious pearls, is convinced that he must be the emperor disguised as an attendant on the vizier. She challenges him as such, and he is unable to deny his quality; but upon his promising to raise the siege, she lets him go undiscovered. The siege is raised, and the emperor returns home.
Some time after this, the raja, boasting that he had repulsed the forces of the sovereign of Hindoostan, is informed by the female domestic that she had been the cause of his deliverance; upon which, enraged, he commits her to prison for her supposed falsehood, but after some days releases her. She, vexed at such an ungrateful return for her services, meditates revenge, and sends a messenger to the emperor, assuring him, that if he will again march against the raja, she will deliver her mistress into his power.
The emperor rejoiced, once more besieges the fortress. The domestic comes out privately, and informs him of the place where the beautiful Lalla Rookh goes every morning, with a few attendants, to bathe. She is surprized, and taken. The emperor returns with her to his capital, and declares her his queen; but as she is overwhelmed with grief at the loss of her friends, her lover, and being confined to associate with those of a different religion, he refrains from asking favours, in hopes that time may conquer her melancholy, and attentions attract her regard.
The unfortunate prince who had been betrothed to Lalla Rookh becomes distracted, and taking with him the jewels and ornaments he had prepared for their nuptials, wanders to the neighbourhood of the emperor’s capital. In a forest near it he builds a hut, and in most harmonious strains laments his love. His complaints attract the antelopes, who become so tame as to gather round him while he is singing; and he ties round their necks and horns the pearls and jewels he had prepared for his mistress. Rumour soon spreads in the city the report of his situation, and the people flock in crowds to behold him, and hear his poetry and music. The emperor is informed, and with Lalla Rookh repairs to his hut; where they behold him surrounded by listening animals of every kind, and hear him singing the following
On hearing these verses, and seeing her lover, Lalla Rookh faints. The emperor, moved with compassion, generously unites the lovers, and dismisses them with magnificent presents to their own country.*