“How,” said the Sultan, “do I intend to use it? I shall begin by you, if you argue with me.” At these terrible words the favorite turn’d pale, trembled, recover’d herself, and conjured the Sultan by Brama, and all the Pagodas of the Indies and Congo, not to try the experiment on her of a secret power, which indicated a diffidence of her fidelity.
“If I have been constantly honest,” continued she, “my Toy will not speak a word, and you will have done me such an injury as I shall never forgive. If it happens to speak, I shall lose your esteem and heart, and that will make you run distracted. Hitherto you have, in my opinion, found your account in our connection; why would you run the risk of breaking it off? Prince, believe me. Follow the advice of the Genius; he has had great experience, and advices of Genius are always good to follow.”
“This is exactly what I was saying to myself,” answered Mangogul, “when you awoke. And yet if you had slept two minutes longer, I cannot answer for what might have happened.”
“What would have happened,” says Mirzoza, “is, that my Toy would have given you no information, and that you would have lost me forever.”
“That may be,” replied Mangogul; “but now that I have a full view of the danger which I incurred, I solemnly swear to you by the eternal Pagoda, that you shall be excepted from the number of those, on whom I shall turn the ring.”
At these words Mirzoza brightened up, and fell to joking at the expense of the Toys which the Prince should hereafter interrogate. “Cydalisa’s Toy,” said she, “has many stories to tell, and if it be as indiscreet as its mistress, it will not require much intreaty. Haria’s Toy is no longer of this world, and your highness will obtain no tales from it of fresher date than the days of my grandmother. As for that of Glauce, I believe it is a proper one to be consulted. She is a coquet and pretty.”
“And for that reason precisely it is,” replied the Sultan, “that her Toy will be mute.”
“Why then,” said the Sultana, “apply to that of Phedima, she is ugly, and loves gallantry.”
“Yes,” continued the Sultan; “and so ugly, that one must be as ill-natured as you, to accuse her of gallantry. Phedima is sober; ’tis I who say it, and who know something of the matter.”
“As sober as you please,” replied the favorite, “but she has a sort of grey eyes that speak the contrary.”
“Her eyes belie her,” said the Sultan warmly. “You tire my patience with your Phedima. Might not one say, that there is no other Toy but this to examine.”
“But may I presume, without offending your highness,” added Mirzoza, “to ask which is the first you intend to honour with your choice.”
“We shall see anon,” said Mangogul, “in the circle of the Manimonbanda, (the Congese name of the great Sultana). We shall have a good deal of work upon our hands and when we happen to be tired of the Toys of my court, we may chance make a tour through Banza. Possibly we may find those of the city women more reasonable than those of dutchesses.”
“Prince,” said Mirzoza, “I have some acquaintance with the former, and can assure you, that they are only more circumspect.”
“We shall soon hear from them: but I cannot refrain from laughter,” continued Mangogul, “when I think on the confusion and surprise of these women at the first words of their Toys, ha, ha, ha! Remember, delight of my soul, that I shall expect you at the great Sultana’s, and that I shall make no use of my ring till you are come.”
“Prince,” said Mirzoza, “I rely on the promise you have made me.” Mangogul smiled at her alarm, reiterated his promise, sealed them with kisses, and retired.
VI
First Trial of the Ring
Alcina
Mangogul arrived before her at the great Sultana’s, and found all the ladies very busy at cards. He survey’d all those, whose reputation was established, fully resolved to try his ring on one of them, and his only difficulty was in the choice. While, he was in suspence by whom to begin, he spied a young lady of the household of the Manimonbanda in a window. She was toying with her husband; which appear’d singular to the Sultan, inasmuch as they had been married above eight days. They had made their appearance in the same box at the Opera, in the same coach at the Bois de Boulogne, they had finished their visits; and the fashion of the times exempted them from loving or even meeting each other. “If this Toy,” says Mangogul, “is as silly as its mistress, we shall have a diverting soliloquy.” At this instant the favorite appear’d. “Welcome,” said the Sultan to her in a whisper. “I have cast my lead, waiting for you.”
“And on whom?” ask’d Mirzoza.
“On that couple which you see sporting in that window,” answer’d Mangogul with a wink.
“Well set out,” replied the favorite.
Alcina, for that was the young lady’s name, was sprightly and pretty. The Sultan’s court had few women more amiable, and not one of a gayer disposition. One of the Sultan’s Emirs had filled his head with her. He was not left in ignorance of what the chronicle had published concerning Alcina: the report alarm’d him, but he followed the custom: he consulted his mistress about it. Alcina swore, that it was pure calumny invented by some coxcombs, who would have been silent, if they had had any reason for talking; but however, that there was no harm done, and that he was at full liberty to believe it or not, as he thought proper. This answer, delivered with an air of confidence, convinced the amorous Emir of his mistress’s innocence. He closed the affair, and assumed the title of Alcina’s
