that
the women looked very earnestly upon me, not expecting, I suppose, to see me so
submissively attended. When my upper vest was taken off, they were apparently
struck with the splendour of my cloaths, and one of them timorously laid her
hand upon the embroidery. She then went out, and, in a short time, came back
with another woman, who seemed to be of higher rank, and greater authority. She
did, at her entrance, the usual act of reverence, and, taking me by the hand,
placed me in a smaller tent, spread with finer carpets, where I spent the night
quietly with my maids.
    In the morning, as I was sitting on the grass, the chief of the troop came
towards me. I rose up to receive him, and he bowed with great respect.«
»Illustrious lady,« said he, »my fortune is better than I had presumed to hope;
I am told by my women, that I have a princess in my camp.« Sir, answered I, your
women have deceived themselves and you; I am not a princess, but an unhappy
stranger who intended soon to have left this country, in which I am now to be
imprisoned for ever. »Whoever, or whencesoever, you are, returned the Arab, your
dress, and that of your servants, show your rank to be high, and your wealth to
be great. Why should you, who can so easily procure your ransome, think yourself
in danger of perpetual captivity? The purpose of my incursions is to increase my
riches, or more properly to gather tribute. The sons of Ishmael are the natural
and hereditary lords of this part of the continent, which is usurped by late
invaders, and low-born tyrants, from whom we are compelled to take by the sword
what is denied to justice. The violence of war admits no distinction; the lance
that is lifted at guilt and power will sometimes fall on innocence and
gentleness.«
    »How little, said I, did I expect that yesterday it should have fallen upon
me.«
    »Misfortunes, answered the Arab, should always be expected. If the eye of
hostility could learn reverence or pity, excellence like yours had been exempt
from injury. But the angels of affliction spread their toils alike for the
virtuous and the wicked, for the mighty and the mean. Do not be disconsolate; I
am not one of the lawless and cruel rovers of the desert; I know the rules of
civil life: I will fix your ransome, give a pasport to