When they were alone , Neangir turned to the fair strangers and implored their help . ` My brothers and myself , ' he cried , ` are filled with love for three peerless maidens , two of whom are under a cruel spell . If their fate happened to be in your hands , would you not do all in your power to restore them to happiness and liberty ? ' But the young man 's appeal only stirred the two ladies to anger . ` What , ' exclaimed one , ` are the sorrows of lovers to us ? Fate has deprived us of our lovers , and if it depends on us the whole world shall suffer as much as we do ! ' This unexpected reply was heard with amazement by all present , and the Bassa entreated the speaker to tell them her story . Having obtained permission of her sister , she began : THE STORY OF THE FAIR CIRCASSIANS ` We were born in Circassia of poor people , and my sister 's name is Tezila and mine Dely . Having nothing but our beauty to help us in life , we were carefully trained in all the accomplishments that give pleasure . We were both quick to learn , and from our childhood could play all sorts of instruments , could sing , and above all could dance . We were , besides , lively and merry , as in spite of our misfortunes we are to this day . ` We were easily pleased and quite content with our lives at home , when one morning the officials who had been sent to find wives for the Sultan saw us , and were struck with our beauty . We had always expected something of the sort , and were resigned to our lot , when we chanced to see two young men enter our house . The elder , who was about twenty years of age , had black hair and very bright eyes . The other could not have been more than fifteen , and was so fair that he might easily have passed for a girl . ` They knocked at the door with a timid air and begged our parents to give them shelter , as they had lost their way . After some hesitation their request was granted , and they were invited into the room in which we were . And if our parents ' hearts were touched by their beauty , our own were not any harder , so that our departure for the palace , which had been arranged for the next day , suddenly became intolerable to us . ` Night came , and I awoke from my sleep to find the younger of the two strangers sitting at my bedside and felt him take my hand . ' `` Fear nothing , lovely Dely , '' he whispered , `` from one who never knew love till he saw you .
My name , '' he went on , `` is Prince Delicate , and I am the son of the King XXXXX the Isle of Black Marble .
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