I was too much dazzled by her beauty to dream of refusing her offer,
and accordingly the princess had me conducted to the bath,
and a rich dress befitting my rank was provided for me.
Then a feast of the most delicate dishes was served in a room
hung with embroidered Indian fabrics.

Next day, when we were at dinner, I could maintain my patience
no longer, and implored the princess to break her bonds, and return
with me to the world which was lighted by the sun.

"What you ask is impossible," she answered; "but stay here with
me instead, and we can be happy, and all you will have to do
is to betake yourself to the forest every tenth day, when I am
expecting my master the genius. He is very jealous, as you know,
and will not suffer a man to come near me."

"Princess," I replied, "I see it is only fear of the genius that
makes you act like this. For myself, I dread him so little that I
mean to break his talisman in pieces! Awful though you think him,
he shall feel the weight of my arm, and I herewith take a solemn
vow to stamp out the whole race."

The princess, who realized the consequences of such audacity,
entreated me not to touch the talisman. "If you do, it will be the
ruin of both of us," said she; "I know genii much better than you."
But the wine I had drunk had confused my brain; I gave one kick
to the talisman, and it fell into a thousand pieces.

Hardly had my foot touched the talisman when the air became as dark
as night, a fearful noise was heard, and the palace shook to its