them to revenge my father's death; but heaven did not concur in a
resolution we thought so just. When we had been but a few days
at sea, there arose such a furious storm, that, in spite of all
the mariners' art, our vessel, carried away by the violence of
the winds and waves, was dashed in pieces against a rock. I will
not spend time in describing our shipwreck. I can but faintly
represent to you how my governess, the grand vizier, and all that
attended me, were swallowed up by the sea. The dread I was
seized with did not permit me to observe all the horror of our
condition. I lost my senses; and whether I was thrown upon the
coast upon any part of the wreck, or whether heaven, which
reserved me for other misfortunes, wrought a miracle for my
deliverance, I found myself on shore when my senses returned.

Misfortunes very often make us forget our duty. Instead of
returning thanks to God for so singular a favour shewn me, I only
lifted up my eyes to heaven, to complain because I had been
preserved. I was so far from bewailing the vizier and my
governess, that I envied their fate, and dreadful imaginations by
degrees prevailing over my reason, I resolved to cast myself into
the sea; I was on the point of doing so, when I heard behind me a
great noise of men and horses. I looked about to see what it
might be, and espied several armed horsemen, among whom was one
mounted on an Arabian horse. He had on a garment embroidered
with silver, a girdle set with precious stones, and a crown of
gold on his head. Though his habit had not convinced me that he
was chief of the company, I should have judged it by the air of
grandeur which appeared in his person. He was a young man
extraordinarily well shaped, and perfectly beautiful. Surprised
to see a young lady alone in that place, he sent some of his