He was at this time so richly ornamented with jewels, that I must confess I never saw at any one time such unspeakable wealth.  He now amused himself in seeing his greatest elephants brought in before him.  Some of these were lord-elephants, having their chains, bells, and furniture all of gold and silver, being attended by many gilt flags and streamers, and each having eight or ten inferior elephants to wait upon him, clothed in gold, silk, and silver.  In this way there passed about twelve troops, all very splendidly furnished.  The first lord-elephant had all the plates on his head and breast set with rubies and emeralds, being a beast of most wonderful stature and beauty.  They all bowed down before the king, making their reverences very orderly, and formed as fine a shew of beasts as I had ever seen.  The keepers of each chief elephant made a present to the king.  After this was over, the king made me some gracious speeches, and went into the interior apartments.

About ten o’clock at night, after I was in bed, the king sent me a message, saying he had heard I had a picture which I had not shewn him, and desired I would come then to him, bringing the picture with me; and if I would not part with it, that he might see it, and have copies taken for his wives.  I rose and carried the picture with me, and when I came to the presence, I found him sitting cross-legged on a little throne, his robes all covered over with diamonds, pearls, and rubies.  Before him stood a golden table, on which were above fifty pieces of gold plate, all set with precious stones, some of them being large and of great value.  His nobles were all around him in their best attire, whom he commanded to drink cheerfully of several kinds of wine, which stood there in large flaggons.

On my approach he asked for the picture, on which I shewed him two.  He seemed astonished at one of these, and asked whose it was; to which I replied, that it was the portrait of a friend who was dead.  He asked if I would give it him.  I replied, that I valued it more than any thing I had, as being the portrait of one I had loved dearly; but if his majesty would pardon my attachment to that picture, and accept the other, which was French and of excellent work, I would most willingly give it.  He thanked me, saying it was that only picture which he desired, and which he loved as much as I did; and, if I would give it him, he would value it more than the richest jewel in his house.  I answered that I was not so much in love with any thing, but that I would part with it to satisfy his majesty, being extremely glad to have any opportunity to serve him, and was ready even to present him with my heart, if I could thereby demonstrate my affection.  He bowed to me, saying he had never before seen so much art and beauty, and conjured me to tell him truly if ever such a woman had lived.  I answered, that there certainly did once live a lady whom this portrait resembled in every thing but perfection.