Page 115 - Bulbul Hezar

disposition of every thing. Afterwards she was conducted to the
princess, who waited for her in the great hall, which, in

propriety, beauty, and richness, exceeded all the apartments she
had admired before.
As soon as the princess saw the devout woman, she said to her,
Good mother, come near, and sit down by me; I am overjoyed
at the happiness of having the opportunity of profiting for some
moments by the good example and discourse of such a person
as you, who has taken the right way, by dedicating yourself to

the service of God: I wish every body were as wise.
The religious woman, instead of sitting upon a sofa, would only
sit upon the edge of it; but the princess would not permit her to
do so, but got off her seat, and taking her by the hand, obliged
her to come and sit by her. The good woman, sensible of the
civility, said, Madam, I ought not to have so much respect
shewn me; but since you command me, I will obey you. When
she had sat down, before they entered into any conversation,
one of the princess's women brought a little table of mother-of-

pearl and ebony, with a china dish of cakes upon it, and a great
many others full of fruits in season, and wet and dry sweet-
meats set round it.
The princess took up one of the cakes, and presenting her with
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