Bherawir Banou, alarmed at seeing the condition of Benuzzeer, exclaimed, “What is the matter? and whence the cause of thy being thus overcome?” Benuzzeer, by his utmost efforts col­lecting himself, replied, “O emblem of the sun of empire! on account of advanced life, the imbecility of age has vanquished my natural strength, on which account, now and then these fits occur. As the poet observes, Age is accompanied by an hundred ailments.” Opening now the lid of the casket, and taking out the portrait of Jehaundar Sultan, which he had drawn with his wonder-sketching pencil, he gave it into the hand of Bherawir Banou. The princess, struck with the beauty of the figure, at once giving up her heart from her power, exclaimed, “Whose resemblance is this, that diffuses the perfume of intimacy over my soul?”

Benuzzeer replied, “It is the por­trait of Jehaundar Sultan, heir to the crown and ring of the empire of Hindoostan, before whose beauty and grace Joseph,* except the gift of prophecy, would have held no estimation. In strength of body and dignity of mind, Rustum,* in comparison to him, would have appeared inferior to Zaul.* His munificence surpasses the celebrity of Hatim Tai,* and his mellifluent eloquence captivates into the snare the sweets-loving parrot. From envy of his graceful steps, the pheasant has retired to the mountains. When, in pursuit of the game, he mounts his sable-coloured courser swift as the eagle, the lion crouches into the den of the fox, and the hot elephant (if he could) would conceal himself in the hole of the ant. In wisdom and penetration, he is the Plato of his age, and in glory and power a second Alexander.”

Bherawir Banou, from hearing this eloquent description of his accomplish­ments, and beholding the beauty of his portrait, shed the seed of love for Jehaundar Sultan in the soil of her heart, and planted the shrub of affection for him in her mind. As modesty, however, withheld her robes, and maiden bashful­ness restrained her feelings, she did not avow the secret even to her own lips; but inwardly setting in a blaze the easily-kindling cotton of her mind with the flame of love, began to burn, and to ease her torments requested the portrait from Benuzzeer. With much art, refusing compliance with this demand, he said, “May my head and life be a sacrifice even for the dust of the feet of the empress of the world, but your humblest of servants at first mentioned that this picture was given to me in charge. On this point I dare not break my trust.”

The princess replied, “I cannot believe your declaration, because the object of your speech is void of the ornaments of truth; for a bit of silk, on which a trifling figure is pourtrayed, is not an article worthy of royal commission.”

Benuzzeer answered, “O queen of ladies of the age, if you look merely to the value of this scrap of silk, certainly it is not worth more than a few deenars; but when you consider the feelings and affection of a certain personage who is enamoured with the beauties of the original of this like­ness, and examine it in this view, should you offer for it both worlds, the verse of ‘bid higher still, for as yet the price is rated too low,’* would, in respect to this portrait, be verified. Empress of the world, the case is thus: The sovereign of the kingdom of Bengal, hath in the mansion of royalty a moon, among the admirers of whose beauty is the world-illuming sun.

“As from the relation of travellers in various countries, who glean a sheaf from every harvest, and snatch a delicacy from every treat, the noble disposition and sublime accomplish­ments of this wakeful-starred prince (Jehaundar Sultan) became thoroughly understood by him, and that the odour of conquest would from his person perfume the sense of the world, he became anxious to string this pre­cious pearl of the casket of purity on the thread of his marriage union, and to effect a true junction between the Shumshaud and the Rose. There­fore, with eager importunity and a thousand promises, he requested me to procure his portrait; and I having now, at the instigation of so puissant a monarch, with much trouble obtained it, am now on my way to his presence, where I hope, in return for such an important service, I shall receive so large a sum and ample reward, that by its means, becoming independent of want and poverty for the residue of life, I may enjoy freedom from the vicissitudes of chance, and be released from the anxiety of seeking a live­lihood.”

Bherawir Banou, who had given up her soul to the portrait, on hearing this account considered with herself, and thus reasoned on her own condition. “I have admitted unseeing the dart of love for this youth into my heart. It is certain that without attaining the honour of his union, life to me will be as death, and the bloom of existence be wasted in the extremest tor­tures of disappointment, which are more bitter than the expiring agony. To give up, therefore, this phœnix of the sky of excellence into the entan­glements of another, and to submit myself enchained to my last breath in despair, is far from the rules of self-preservation. Let what may happen, it is adviseable that I keep in sight this talisman of the treasure of good fortune, which may prove a key to the doors of felicity, and the har­binger of attainment to my wishes. Depending on the immeasurable bounty of God, which is the unfolder of the difficulties of those who seek an object, and giver of remedy to them who ask a cure, it is fitting that I wait patiently to see what may issue from the veil of concealment into the plain of apparency, and on whose wishes the skies may favourably revolve.”

Having pondered thus, she said, “Thy desire, merchant, is merely gold. From whomsoever you receive it, thy object is gained. Sell to me this figured silk, and take without the trouble of more fatigue, a sum which never could have entered thy expecta­tion, and with satisfaction of mind pursue the route of thy wishes. Thou well knowest that the world of chance in every moment plays an hundred various tricks. If, from excess of covetousness and utmost greediness of gain, the most blameable of sins, sacrificing real advantage for imaginary hope, thou pursuest a road longer than the plain of avarice, and night and day livest perplexed in labour; most probably calamity will occur, and thou be altogether deprived of reward. Hence, disappointment becoming the bane of life, thou, during the remainder of thy age, wilt languish for the princely sum I now offer thee, and expire with regret. Letting alone, however, the consideration of my pro­posal, supposing you reach your intended stage in safety, as the situation of man is not always in one posture possibly the skirt of the monarch’s munificence may be shortened, and he may not shew a liberality equal to your wishes. This circumstance must occasion repining of mind and sorrow of heart, to which will be added the toil, vexation, and labour of travel. My meaning in this representation is, that to give from the hands a present good for one in expectation, is not the dictate of prudence; consequently, thy true interest lies in this, that thou turn not away from this advantageous pro­posal: forfeit not so valuable a trea­sure, if thy fortunate star is ascendant: for a scrap of silk, the revenue of a kingdom is offered.”

Benuzzeer perceiving that his charm had taken effect on the mind of the Perie,* at first placing himself in the gateway of denial, made several excuses; but at length from policy drawing in the reins of refusal, submitted himself to con­sent, and having received from her river-like liberality valuable jewels and a vast sum of money, delivered her the por­trait.

During the time of his being honoured with her exalting converse, with keen observation and impressive skill, he had drawn upon the page of his mind with the pencil of recollection, the strik­ing lineaments of her angel-like features: and, being dismissed, on returning to his quarters, immediately took up his miraculous implements, and pourtrayed her likeness on a piece of silk so strongly, as not to deviate a hair’s line from the elegant stature and hoori-envied coun­tenance of that sun of the heaven of beauty. You would suppose the delineator of omnipotence had drawn it with the pencil of divine decree. When the artful Benuzzeer had attained the object which he had in view, being graciously dismissed from the presence of Bherawir Banou, he returned towards his own country; and fleeting over the stages on the wings of speed, arrived at the palace of Sultan Jehaundar.*