--- title: Opening, part 14 — The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient · full text with trees description: Opening, part 14, «The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient» by Penrhyn Wingfield Coussens: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: When the sorceress had finished her speech, the sultan asked his councillors if they had anything better to propose; a --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/14/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The Jade Story Book; Stories from the…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/) / Opening, part 14 # Opening, part 14 Opening, part 14 of «The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient» by Penrhyn Wingfield Coussens: the whole text, 97 sentences and 2550 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/14/page/2/) When the sorceress had finished her speech, the sultan asked his councillors if they had anything better to propose; and finding them all silent, determined to follow her advice.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day, when the prince came into his father’s presence, the sultan thus addressed him, “My son, I congratulate you on your marriage with a fairy, who I hear is worthy of your love.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") It is my earnest wish that you would use your influence with your wife to obtain her assistance to do me a great service.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") You know to what a great expense I am put, every time I engage in war, to provide mules, camels, and other beasts of burden to carry the tents of myself and of my army.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Now I am persuaded you could easily procure from the fairy, your wife, a tent that might be carried in a man’s hand, and which would protect my whole army.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Pray oblige me in this matter.”[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Prince Ahmed, hearing this request, was in the greatest trouble what answer to make.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") At last he replied, “Though I know not how this mystery has been revealed to you, I cannot deny that your information is correct.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") I have married the fairy you speak of.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") But I can say nothing as to the influence I have over her.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") However, I will not fail, though it be with great reluctance, to ask my wife the favor you desire.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") If I should not come again to pay you my respects, it will be the sign that I have not been able to succeed in my petition; but beforehand, I desire you to forgive me, and consider that you yourself have reduced me to this extremity.”[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") “Son,” replied the Sultan of the Indies, “your wife would show that her love to you was very slight if, with the power she possesses as a fairy, she should refuse so trifling a request as that I have begged you to make.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Go; only ask her.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") If she loves you, she will not deny you.”[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") All these reasons of the Sultan of the Indies could not satisfy Prince Ahmed; and so great was his vexation, that he left the court two days sooner than usual.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") When he returned, the fairy, to whom he always before had appeared with a gay countenance, at once observed his melancholy, and asked the cause of the change she perceived in him.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") After much pressing, Ahmed confessed that the sultan had discovered his abode and his marriage with the fairy, though he could not tell by what means.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") The fairy reminded him of the old woman on whom he had compassion, and said that she was the spy of the sultan, and had told him all she had seen and heard.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") “But,” she said, “the mere knowledge of my abode by the sultan would not so trouble you.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") There is something else which is the cause of your grief and vexation.”[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") “Perie Banou,” said Prince Ahmed at last, “it is even so.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") My father doubts my fidelity to him, unless I can provide a tent large enough to shelter him, his court, and army when he goes to war, and small enough for a man to carry in his hand.”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") “Prince,” replied the fairy, smiling, “what the sultan your father requests is a trifle.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") On occasion I can do him more important service.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore, I shall always take real pleasure in performing whatever you can desire.”[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Perie Banou then sent for her treasurer, to whom, when she came, she said, “Noor-Jehaun” (which was her name), “bring me the largest tent in my treasury.”[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Noor-Jehaun returned presently with a small case concealed in the palm of her hand, and presented it to her mistress, who gave it to Prince Ahmed to look at.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") When Prince Ahmed saw the small case, which the fairy called the largest tent in her treasury, he fancied she had a mind to banter him.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") On perceiving this, Perie Banou exclaimed, “What, prince\![30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Do you think I jest with you?[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") You will see that I am in earnest.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Noor-Jehaun,” said she to her treasurer, taking the tent out of Prince Ahmed’s hands, “go and set it up, that he may judge whether the sultan his father will think it large enough.”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") The treasurer went out immediately with it from the palace, and carried it to a great distance, and then set it up.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince found it large enough to shelter two armies as numerous as that of the sultan his father.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") “You see,” said the fairy, “that the tent is larger than your father may have occasion for; but you must also be informed that it becomes larger or smaller, according to the extent of the army it is to cover, without applying any hands to it.”[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") The treasurer took down the tent, reduced it to its first size, brought it and put it into the prince’s hands.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") He took it, and without staying longer than till the next day, mounted his horse, and went with the usual attendants to the sultan his father.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") The sultan, persuaded that the tent he had asked for was beyond all possibility, was greatly surprised at the prince’s speedy return.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") He took the tent, and after he had admired its smallness he had it set up in the great plain before mentioned, and found it large enough to cover with ease his whole army.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereupon his amazement was so intense that he could not recover himself.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") The sultan expressed great obligation to the prince for so noble a present, desiring him to return his thanks to the fairy; and to show what a value he set on it, ordered it to be carefully laid up in his treasury.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") But in his secret bosom he felt greater jealousy than ever of his son, considering that by the fairy’s assistance he might effect his dethronement.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore, yet more intent on his ruin, he went to consult the sorceress again, who advised him to engage the prince to bring him some of the water of the fountain of lions.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") In the evening, when the sultan was surrounded as usual by all his court, and the prince came to pay his respects among the rest, he addressed him in these words: “Son, I have already expressed to you how much I am obliged for the present of the tent you have procured me, which I esteem the most valuable article in my treasury; but you must do one thing more, which will be no less agreeable to me.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") I am informed that the fairy your spouse makes use of a certain water called the water of the fountain of lions, which cures all sorts of diseases, even the most dangerous; and as I am perfectly well persuaded my health is dear to you, I do not doubt but you will ask her for a bottle of that water, and bring it to me as a sure remedy, which I may use when I have occasion.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Do me this important service, and complete the duty of a good son towards a tender father.”[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Prince Ahmed, who had believed that the sultan his father would be satisfied with so remarkable and useful a tent as the one he had brought, and that he would not impose any new task upon him which might hazard the fairy’s displeasure, was thunderstruck at this new request.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") After a long silence he said, “I beg of your majesty to be assured that there is nothing I would not undertake to procure which may contribute to the prolonging of your life, but I wish it might not be by the means of my wife.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") For this reason I dare not promise to bring the water.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") All I can do is, to assure you I will request it of her; but it will be with as great reluctance as I asked for the tent.”[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/14/page/2/) - ← previous: [Opening, part 13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/13/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/14/page/2/) - ↑ back to [The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/)