DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22902#0064
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was spread one of the richest landscapes imaginable. The
tall palm trees that surrounded the garden reared^their tufted
heads against a clear blue sky, the hedges and plants glimmer-
ed in the moonbeam, while every herb and flower sent its odours
more strongly on the night air. They soon entered a spacious
well-built mansion, placed about the middle of the garden,
with its interior beautifully illuminated. They were next showed
upstairs by the negro slave, and were conducted to a large saloon
highly decorated with furnitures of marble; the floor was paved
with stones of various colors, forming a rough sort of mosaic
work; while at the end of the hall was placed a sort of raised
seat covered with the finest crimson velvet wrought in tissues
of gold ; on this superb couch the beautiful Neeroopoma was
requested to take her seat. Jovunnia placed herself at her
feet. But the fair girl seemed quite pensive and dejected ;
she knew not what her fate would be, and a hundred times did
she blame herself for allowing the crafty dame to wheedle her
away from her father's home ; but it was too late, and she
could not retrace her steps. She was absorbed in sad thought,
for she felt an internal conviction, as it were, that her ambition
would be the cause of her ruin. Jovunnia observed this, and
tried to console her:—" Be of good cheer, my child," said
she; " what aileth thee now ; this moping melancholy ill be-
comes thy youth, particularly at a time when proud Royalty
himself is about to pay homage to thy beauty and worth." At
this moment the black slave entered the room, and announced
that " the high in office, the great in learning, the incompar-
able Mirza Sahib," was waiting to pay his homage to the
Queen of Beauty. At this Neeroopoma looked enquiringly at
Jovunnia, as though she would say "what does the man mean V
" Bring him in," said Jovunnia to the negro, and then turning
towards the fair maid, mentioned to her the high favor in
was spread one of the richest landscapes imaginable. The
tall palm trees that surrounded the garden reared^their tufted
heads against a clear blue sky, the hedges and plants glimmer-
ed in the moonbeam, while every herb and flower sent its odours
more strongly on the night air. They soon entered a spacious
well-built mansion, placed about the middle of the garden,
with its interior beautifully illuminated. They were next showed
upstairs by the negro slave, and were conducted to a large saloon
highly decorated with furnitures of marble; the floor was paved
with stones of various colors, forming a rough sort of mosaic
work; while at the end of the hall was placed a sort of raised
seat covered with the finest crimson velvet wrought in tissues
of gold ; on this superb couch the beautiful Neeroopoma was
requested to take her seat. Jovunnia placed herself at her
feet. But the fair girl seemed quite pensive and dejected ;
she knew not what her fate would be, and a hundred times did
she blame herself for allowing the crafty dame to wheedle her
away from her father's home ; but it was too late, and she
could not retrace her steps. She was absorbed in sad thought,
for she felt an internal conviction, as it were, that her ambition
would be the cause of her ruin. Jovunnia observed this, and
tried to console her:—" Be of good cheer, my child," said
she; " what aileth thee now ; this moping melancholy ill be-
comes thy youth, particularly at a time when proud Royalty
himself is about to pay homage to thy beauty and worth." At
this moment the black slave entered the room, and announced
that " the high in office, the great in learning, the incompar-
able Mirza Sahib," was waiting to pay his homage to the
Queen of Beauty. At this Neeroopoma looked enquiringly at
Jovunnia, as though she would say "what does the man mean V
" Bring him in," said Jovunnia to the negro, and then turning
towards the fair maid, mentioned to her the high favor in