The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

"And how if the High King then demands that we send back the barbarian woman, his
sister?"
"O my father, be assured that he will not. For though the fancy of a woman has rejected
this marriage, the High King Peter is a man of prudence and understanding who will in
no way wish to lose the high honour and advantage of being allied to our House and
seeing his nephew and grand nephew on the throne of Calormen."
"He will not see that if I live for ever as is no doubt your wish," said the Tisroc in an even
drier voice than usual.
"And also, O my father and O the delight of my eyes," said the Prince, after a moment of
awkward silence, "we shall write letters as if from the Queen to say that she loves me and
has no desire to return to Narnia. For it is well known that women are as changeable as
weathercocks. And even if they do not wholly believe the letters, they will not dare to
come to Tashbaan in arms to fetch her."
"O enlightened Vizier," said the Tisroc, "bestow your wisdom upon us concerning this
strange proposal."
"O eternal Tisroc," answered Ahosta, "the strength of paternal affection is not unknown
to me and I have often heard that sons are in the eyes of their fathers more precious than
carbuncles. How then shall I dare freely to unfold to you my mind in a matter which may
imperil the life of this exalted Prince?"
"Undoubtedly you will dare," replied the Tisroc.
"Because you will find that the dangers of not doing so are at least equally great."
"To hear is to obey," moaned the wretched man. "Know then, O most reasonable Tisroc,
in the first place, that the danger of the Prince is not altogether so great as might appear.
For the gods have withheld from the barbarians the light of discretion, as that their poetry
is not, like ours, full of choice apophthegms and useful maxims, but is all of love and
war. Therefore nothing will appear to them more noble and admirable than such a mad
enterprise as this of ow!" For the Prince, at the word "mad", had kicked him again.
"Desist, O my son," said the Tisroc. "And you, estimable Vizier, whether he desists or
not, by no means allow the flow of your eloquence to be interrupted. For nothing is more
suitable to persons of gravity and decorum than to endure minor inconveniences with
constancy."
"To hear is to obey," said the Vizier, wriggling himself round a little so as to get his
hinder parts further away from Rabadash's toe. "Nothing, I say, will seem as pardonable,
if not estimable, in their eyes as this - er - hazardous attempt, especially because it is
undertaken for the love of a woman. Therefore, if the Prince by misfortune fell into their
hands, they would assuredly not kill him. Nay, it may even be, that though he failed to