Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 4/The Christian Merchant

The Story told by the Chriſtian Merchant.

SIR before I commence the Recital of the Story you have allowed me to tell, I beg leave to acquaint you that Thave not the Honour to be born in a Place that retains to your Majeſty’s Empire. I am a Stranger, born at Cairo in Egypt, one of the Coptick Nation, and a Profeſſor of the Chriſtian Religion. My Father was a Broker, and got a good Eſtate which he left me at his Death. I followed his Example, and took up the ſame Employment. And one Day at Cairo, as I was ſtanding in the publick Apartment for the Corn Merchants, there comes up to me a young handſome Man, well clad, and mounted upon an Aſs. He ſaluted me, and pulling out an Handkerchief where he had a Sample of Seſame and Turkey Corn, asked me what a Buſhel of ſuch Seſame would fetch.

Scheherazade, perceiving Day, ſtopp’d here, but the next Night went on in the following manner.

The Hundred and twenty Ninth Night.

SIR, continued the Chriſtian Merchant to the Sultan of Caſgar; I examined the Corn that the Young Man ſhewed me, and told him it ’twas worth an Hundred Drams of Silver per Buſhel. Pray, ſaid he, look out for ſome Merchant to take it at that Price, and come to me at the Victory Gate, where you’ll ſee a Hut at a Diftance from the Houſes. So he left me, and I ſhewed the Sample to ſeveral Merchants, who told me that they would take as much as I could ſpare at an Hundred and Ten Drams per Buſhe!, ſo that I made an account to get Ten Drams per Buſhel for my Brokerage. Full of the Expecttation of this Profit, I went forthwith to the Victory Gate, where I found the young Merchant ſtaying for me, and he carried me into his Granary, which was full of Seſame. He had an Hundred and Fifty Buſhels of it, which I meaſured out, and having carried them off upon Aſſes, ſo!d them for Five thousand Drams of Silver. Now out of this Sum, ſaid the young Man, there’s Five Hundred Drams coming to you, at the Rate of Ten Drams. per Buſhel. I order you to take and apply it to your own Uſe, and as for the reſt which is come to me, do you take it out of the Merchant’s Hand, and keep it till I call for it, for I have no Occaſion for it at preſent. I made Anſwer, it would be ready for him whenever he pleaſed to call for it; and ſo took leave of him, with a grateful Senſe of his Generoſity.

’Twas a Month after, before he came near me: Then he came and asked for his 4500 Drams of Silver. I told him they were ready, and ſhould be told down to him in a Minute. He was then mounted on his Aſs, and ſo I deſired him to alight, and do me the Honour to eat a Mouthful with me before he received his Money. No, ſaid he, I can’t alight at preſent, I have urgent Bufineſs that obliges me to be at a Place juſt by here; but I will return this Way, and then take the Money which I deſire you would have in readineſs. This said he diſappeared; and I ſtill expected his Return; but ’twas a full Menth before he came again. I thought to my ſelf the young Man repofed a great Truſt in me, leaving ſo great a Sum in my Hands without knowing me; another would have been afraid I would have run away with it. To be ſhort, he came again at the End of the third Month, and was ſtill mounted on his Aſs; but finer in his Cloaths than before.

Scheherazade, perceiving Day-light, went no farther for this Night; but the next enſuing Night ſhe proceeded as follows.

The Hundred and Thirtieth Night.

AS ſoon as I ſaw the young Man, continued the Chriſtian Merchant to the Sultan of Caſgar, I intreated him to alight, and asked him if he would not take his Money. “’Tis no matter for that, (ſaid he with a pleaſant eaſy Air) I know it is in good Hands; I’ll come and take it when my other Money is all gone: Adieu, (continued he) I’ll come again towards the latter end of the Week.” With that he clapt his Spurs to the Aſs, and away he went. Well, thought I to my ſelf, he ſays he’ll ſee me towards the latter end of the Week, but ’tis likely I may not ſee him a great while; I’ll go and make the moſt of his Money, and ſhall get a good Penny by it.

And, as it happened, I was not out in my Conjecture; for ’twas a full Year before I ſaw my young Merchant again. Then he appeared indeed with richer Apparel than before; but was very thoughtful. I asked him to do me the Honour to walk into my Houſe. “For this time (replied he) I will go in; but upon this Condition; that you ſhall put your ſelf to no extraordinary Charge upon my Account.” “That ſhall be as you pleaſe, (ſaid I) only do me the Favour to alight and walk in.” Accordingly he complied, and I gave Orders for ſome ſort of Entertainment; and, while that was getting ready, we fell into Difcourſe together. When the Victuals were got ready, we ſat down to Table. When he eat the firſt Mouthful, I obſerved he fed himſelf with the Left Hand, and not with the Right. I could not tell what to think of it. I thought within my ſelf, ever ſince I knew this young Man, he always appeared very polite ; is it poſſible he can do this out of Contempt of me: what can the matter be, that he does not make uſe of his Right Hand?

Scheherazade, perceiving the Approach of Day, diſcontinued her Story, but the next Night ſhe recommenced as follows.

The Hundred and thirty One Night.

SIR, the Chriftian Merchant was in great Pain to know why his Gueſt eat with the Left Hand: After we had done eating, ſaid he, and every thing was taken away, we ſat down upon a Sofa, and I preſented him with a Lozenge that was excellent for giving a ſweet Breath, and ſtill he took it with the Left Hand. Then I accoſted him in this manner; Sir, pray pardon the Liberty I take in asking you, what Reaſon you have for not making uſe of your Right Hand! ’Tis likely you have ſome Diſorder in that Hand. Inſtead of anſwering, he fetch’d a deep ſigh, and pulling out his Right Arm, which he had hitherto kept under his Garment, ſhewed me, to my great Aſtoniſhment that his Hand had been cut off. Doubtleſs you were alarmed, ſaid he, to ſee me feed my ſelf with the Left Hand; but I Leave you to judge, whether it was in my Power to do otherwiſe. May one ask you, ſald I, by what Miſchance it was, that you loſt your Right Hand? Upon that he fell into Tears, and after wiping his Eyes gave me the following Relation.

You muſt know, ſaid he, I am a Native of Bagdad, the Son of a rich Father, the moſt noted Man in that City both for Quality and for Riches. I had ſcarce launched into the World, when falling into the Company of Travellers, and hearing Wonders told of Egypt, eſpecially of Grand Cai-ro, I was moved by their Diſcourſe, and took up a longing Deſire to travel thither. But my Father was then alive and had not given me leave. In fine, he died, and thereupon being Maſter of my ſelf, I reſolved to take a Journey to Cairo. I laid out a large Sum of Money upon ſeveral ſorts of fine Stuffs of Bagdad and Mauſſoul, and ſo undertook my Journey.

Arriving at Cairo I went to the Khan, call’d the Khan of Meſrour; and there took Lodgings with a Warehouſe for my Bales, which I brought along upon Camels. This done, I retired to my Chamber, to reſt my ſelf after the Fatigue of my Journey, and ordered my Servants to go and buy ſome Proviſions; and dreſs them. After I had eat, I went and ſaw the Caſtle, ſome Moſques, Publick Places, and the other Things that were curious.

Next Day I dreſſed my ſelf pretty handſomely, and ordered ſome of the fineſt and richeſt of my Bales to be picked out, and carried by my Slaves to the Circaſſran Bezeſtein,^[1] whither I went my ſelf. I no ſooner got thither than I was ſurrounded with Brokers and Criers, that had heard of my Arrival. I gave Patterns of my Stuffs to ſeveral of the Criers, who went and carried them, and ſhewed them all over the Bezeſtein; but none of the Merchants offered near ſo much as they had coſt me in prime Coſt and Carriage. This vexed me, and the Criers obſerving I was diſſatisfied; If you will take our Advice, ſaid they, we will put you in a Way to ſell your Stufts without lofing by them.

Here Scheherazade ftopp’d upon the Approach of Day, but the next Night went on as follows.

The Hundred and thirty Second Night.

THE Brokers and the Criers, aid the young Man to the Chriſtian Merchant, having thus promiſed to put me in a way of lofing nothing by my Goods. I asked them what Courſe they would have me take, Divide your Goods, ſaid they, among ſeveral Merchants, and they’ll ſell them by Retail and twice a Week, that is, on Mondays and Thurſdays, you may receive what Money they take. By this means you’ll get inſtead of loſing, and the Merchants will get by you. And in the mean time you’ll have Time to take your Pleaſure, and walk up and down the Town, or to go upon the Nile.

I took their Advice, and carried ’em to my Warehouſe, from whence I brought all my Goods to the Bezeſtein, and there divided them among the Merchants that they repreſented as moſt reputable and able to pay; and the Merchants gave me a formal Receipt before Witneſſes, ſtipulating withal that I ſhould not make any Demands upon them for the firſt Month.

Having thus regulated my Affairs, my Mind was taken up with other ſort of Things than the ordinary Pleaſures, I contracted Friendſhip with divers Perſons almoſt of the ſame Age with my ſelf, who took care I did not want Company. After the firſt Month expired, I began to viſit my Merchants twice a Week, taking along with me a publick Officer to inſpect their Books of Sale, and a Banker to ſee they paid me in good Money, and to regulate the Value of the ſeveral Species; and ſo every Pay Day I had a good Sum of money to carry home to my Lodging. I went nevertheleſs on the other Days to paſs the morning ſometimes at a merchant’s Houſe, and ſometimes at fome other Perions. In fine, I diverted my ſelf in converting with one or the other, and ſeeing what paſſed in the Bezeſtein.

One Monday, as I ſat in a Merchant’s Shop, whoſe Name was Bedreddin, a Lady of Quality, as one might eaſily perceive by her Air, her Habit, and her being attendied by a She-ſlave in neat Cloaths; this Lady, I ſay, came into the Shop, and ſat down by me. This external Appearance joined to a natural Grace that ſhined through all ſhe did, inſpired me with, a longing Deſire to know her better than I did. I am at a loſs to know whether ſhe obſerved that I took Pleaſure in gazing upon her; but ſhe tucked up the Crape that hung down over the Muſlin which covered her Face, and ſo gave me the Opportunity of ſeeing her large black Eyes, which perfectly charmed me. In fine, ſhe ſcrew’d my Love to the Height, by the agreeable ſound of her Voice, and her genteel graceful Carriage, in ſaluting the Merchant, and asking him how he did ſince ſhe aw him laſt.

After entertaining him ſometime upon indifferent Things, ſhe gave him to know that ſhe wanted a ſort of Stuff with a Ground of Gold that ſhe came to his Shop as affording the beſt Choice of any in all the Bezeftein; and that, if he had any ſuch as ſhe asked for, he would oblige her in ſhewing them. Bedreddin ſhewed her ſeveral Pieces, one of which ſhe pitched upon, and he asked for it Eleven Hundred Drams of Silver. I agree, ſaid ſhe, to give you ſo much, but I have not money enough about me; ſo I hope you’ll give me Credit till tomorrow, and in the mean time follow me to carry off the Stuff. I ſhall not fail, added ſhe, to ſend you to morrow the Eleven Hundred Drams I agreed for. Madam, ſaid Bedreddin, I would give you Credit with all my heart, and allow you to carry off the Stuff, if it were mine ; but it belongs to that Young Man you ſee here, and this Day is the Day on which we ſtate our Accounts. Why, ſaid the Lady in a Surprizal, why do you offer to uſe me ſo? Am not a Cuſtomer to your Shop? And as often as I have bought of you, and carried home the Things without paying ready money for them, did I ever fail to ſend you your money next morning? Madam, ſaid the Merchant, ’tjs true, but this very day I have occaſion for the Money. There, ſaid ſhe, throwing the Stuff to him, take your ſtuff, may God C——ſ——d you and all the Merchants that ere? you are, all of you, of one Kidney? you reſpect no body. This ſaid, ſhe roſe in a Paſſion and walked out.

Scheherazade perceiving Day, diſcontinued the Story; till the next Night, that ſhe proceeded as follows.

The Hundred and Thirty Third Night.

THE Chriftian-Merchant continued his Story thus: When I ſaw, ſaid the young Man, that the Lady walked off, I found in my Breaſt a great Concern for her; fo I called her back, ſaying, Madam, do me the Favour to return; perhaps I can find a Way to content you both. In fine, back ſhe came, ſaying, ’twas for the Love of me that ſhe complied. Mr. Bedreddin, ſaid I to the Merchant, what do you ſay you muſt have for this Stuff that belongs to me. I muſt have, ſaid he, Eleven Hundred Drams; I can’t take leſs. Give it to the Lady then, ſaid I, let her take it home with her, I allow a Hundred Drams Profit to your ſelf, and ſhall now write you a Note impowering you to diſcount that Sum upon the other Goods you have of mine. In fine, I wrote, ſign’d and deliver’d the Note; and then handed the Stuff to the Lady, Madam, ſaid I, you may take the Stuff with you, and as for the money you may either ſend it tomorrow or next Day; or if you will accept the Stuff as a Preſent from me. I beg your Pardon, Sir, ſaid ſhe, I mean nothing of that; you uſe me ſo very civil and obligingly that I ought never to ſhew my Face in the World again, if ſ did not ſhew my Gratitude to you. May God reward you, in inlarging your Fortune; may you live many years when I am dead; may the Gate of Heaven be open’d to you when you remove to the other World, and may all the City proclaim your Generofity.

Theſe Words inipired me with ſome Aſſurance. Madam, ſaid I, I deſire no other Reward for what Service I have done you, than the Happineſs of ſeeing your Fate; that will repay me with intereſt. I had no ſooner ſpoke, than ſhe turned towards me, took off the Muſlin that covered her Face, and difcovered to my Eyes a killing Beauty. I was ſo truck with the ſurprizing ſight, that I could not expreſs my Thoughts to her. I could have look’d upon her for ever, without being cloy’d; but fearing any one ſhould take Notice ſhe quickly covered her Face, and pulling down the Crape, took up the Piece of Stuff, and went away, leaving me in a quite different ſort of Temper from what I was in, when I came to the Shop. I continued for ſome time in great Diſorder and Perplexity, Before I took leave of the Merchant,I ask’d him if he knew the Lady; yes, ſaid he, ſhe’s the daughter of an Emir, who left her an immenſe Fortune at his Death.

I went home, and ſat down to ſupper, but could not eat; neither could I ſhut my Eyes all Night long; I thought it the longeſt Night in my Life-time. As ſoon as it was Day, I got up, in hopes to ſee once more the Object that diſturb’d my Repoſe; and to engage her Affection, I dreſſed my ſelf yet more nicely than I had done the Day before.

Scheherazade perceiving Day ſtopp’d here; but went on next Night as follows.

The Hundred and Thirty Fourth Night.

SIR, the young Bagdad Merchant recounting his Adventures to the Chriſtian Merchant, continued thus; I had but juſt got, ſaid he, to Bedreddin’s Shop, when I ſaw the Lady coming in more magnificent Apparel than before, and attended by her Slave, When ſhe came in, ſhe did not mind the Merchant, but addreſſing her ſelf to me, Sir, ſaid ſhe, you ſee I am punctual to my Word. I am come on purpoſe to pay the Sum you were ſo kind as to paſs your Word for Yeſterday. tho’ you hadno Knowledge of me: Such an uncommon piece of Generoſity I ſhall never forget. Madam, I ſaid I, you had no occaſion to be ſo haſty. I was very well ſatisfied as to my money, and am ſorry you ſhould put your ſelf to ſo much Trouble about it. I had been very unjuſt, anſwered ſhe, if I had abuſed your Generoſity. With theſe Words ſhe clapp’d the money into my Hand, and ſat down by me.

Having this Opportunity of converſing with her, I made the beſt Uſe of it, and mentioned to her the Love I had for her; but ſhe roſe and left me very abruptly, as if ſhe had been angry with the Declaration I had made. I followed her with my Eyes as long as ſhe was in Sight; and as ſoon as ſhe was out of Sight. I took leave of the Merchant, and walk’d out of the Bezeſtein, without knowing where I went. I was muſing upon this Adventure, when I felt ſome body pulling me behind: And turning about to ſee who it was, I had the agreeable Surprizal to perceive ’twas the Lady’s Slave. My Miſtreſs, ſaid the Slave, I mean the young Lady you ſpoke with but now in a Merchant’s Shop, wants to ſpeak one Word with you; ſo if you pleaſe to give your ſelf the Trouble to follow me, I’ll conduct you. Accordingly I followed her, and found my Miſtrels ſtaying for me in a Banker’s Shop.

She made me ſit down by her, and ſpoke to this Purpoſe. Dear Sir, ſaid ſhe, don’t be ſurpriz’d that I left you ſo abruptly. I thought it not proper before that Merchant to give a favourable Anſwer to the Diſcovery you made of your Affection to me. But to ſpeak the Truth, I was far from being offended at it, that I was pleaſed when I heard it; and I account my ſelf infinitely happy in having a Man of your Merit for my Lover, I do not know what Impreſſion the firſt Sight of me could make upon you; but I aſſure you, I no ſooner ſaw you, than I had tender Thoughts of you. Since Yeſterday I have done nothing but thought of what you ſaid to me; and the haſte I made to come and find you out this Morning, may convince you I have no ſmall regard for you, Madam, ſaid I, tranſported with Love and Joy, nothing can be more agreeable to me than what I now hear. No Paſſion can be greater, than that with which love you ſince the happy moment I caſt my Eyes upon you; my Eyes were then dazzled with ſo many Charms, that my Heart yielded without Reſiſtance. Do not let us trifle away the time in needleſs Diſcourſe, ſaid ſhe, interrupting me: I make no doubt of your Sincerity, and you ſhall quickly be convinced of mine. Will you do me the Honour to come to my Home, or if you will, I’ll come to yours. Madam, ſaid I, I’m a Stranger lodged in a Khan, which is not a proper Place for the Reception of a Lady of your Quality and Merit.

Here the approach of Day interrupted Scheherazade; but the next Morning ſhe continued thus.

The Hundred and Thirty Fifth Night.

’TIS more proper, Madam, ſaid the young Bagdad Merchant to his Sweet-heart; ’tis more proper for me to come to you at your own Houſe, if you’ll pleaſe to tell me where it is. The Lady complying with his Defire, I live, ſaid ſhe, in Devotion-Street; come next Friday after Noon-Prayers, and ask for the Houſe of Abbon Schamma, ſurnamed Bercout, late Maſter of the Emirs; there you’ll find me. This ſaid, we parted, and I paſſed the next Day in great Impatience.

On Friday, I got up betimes and put on my beſt Cloaths, with Fifty Pieces of Gold in my Pocket. Thus prepared, I mounted an Aſs I had beſpoke the Day before, and ſet out, accompanied by the Man that let me the Aſs. When we came to Devotion-ſtreet, I directed the Owner of the Aſs, to enquire for the Houſe I wanted to be at. Accordingly he enquired and conducted me thither, I paid him libe-rally and ſent him back; directing him to obſerve narrowly where he left me, and not to fail to come back with the Aſs to Morrow Morning, to carry me back again.

I knocked at the Door, and preſently two little Girls, Slaves white as Snow, and neatly dreſſed, came and opened it. Be pleaſed to come in, Sir, ſaid they, my Miſtreſs expects you impatiently;, Theſe two days ſhe has ſpoke of nothing but you. So I enter’d the Court, and ſaw a great Pavillion raiſed upon ſeyen Steps, and ſurrounded with Iron Rails, that parted it from a very pleaſant Garden. Befides the Trees which imbelliſhed the Proſpect, and forced an agreeable Shade, there was an infinite Number of other Trees loaded with all manner of Fruit. I was charmed with the Warbling of a great Number of Birds, that joyn’d their Notes to the murmurings of a very high Water-work, in the middle of a Ground-Plot enamel’d with Flowers. This Water-work was a very agreeable ſight; Four large gilded Dragons adorned the Angles of the Baſin, which was of a ſquare Form; and theſe Dragons ſpouted out Water clearer than Rock Chryſtal. This delicious Place gave me a charming Idea of the Conqueſt I had made. The two little Slaves conducted me into a Parlour magnificently furniſh’d; and while one of ’em went to acquaint her Miſtreſs with my Arrival, the other tarried with me, and pointed out to me the Ornaments of the Hall.

At this Period, Scheherazade diſcontinued her Story, upon the Appearance of Day: And Shahriar get up, curious to know what the Bagdadeſe would do in the Lady’s Parlour. The next Morning the Sultaneſs gratified the Sultan’s Curioſity, by purſuing the Sequel of the Story in the following manner.

The Hundred and Thirty Sixth Night.

SIR, the Chriſtian Merchant continued his Diſcourſe to the Sultan of Caſgar to this Purpoſe. I did not tarry long in the Hall, ſaid the Young Man of Bagdad, till the Lady I loved appeared, adorned with Pearls and Diamonds, but the Splendor of her Eyes did far outſhine that of her Jewels. Her Shapes, which were now not diſguiſed by the Habit uſual in the Streets, were extreme fine and charming. I need not mention with what Joy we received one another; that leaves all Expreſſion tar behind it. I ſhall only tell you, that when the firſt Compliments were over, we ſat both down upon a Sofa, and there entertained one another with all imaginable Satisfaction. After that we had the moſt delicious Meſſes ſerved up to us; and after eating, continued our Diſcourſe till Night. At Night we had excellent Wine brought up, and ſuch Fruit as is apt to promote Drinking; and timed our Cups to the ſound of muſical Inſtruments joined to the Voices of the Slaves. The Lady of the Houſe ſung her ſelf, and by her Songs ſcrew’d up my Paſſion to the Height, In fine, I paſſed the Night in a full Enjoyment of all manner of Pleaſure.

Next Morning I ſlip’d under the Bolſter of the Bed the Purſe with the Fifty Pieces of Gold I had brought with me, and took leave of the Lady, who asked me when I would ſee her again. Madam, ſaid I, I give you my Promiſe to return this Night. She ſeem’d to be tranſported with my Anſwer, and, condufting me to the Door, conjured me at Parting to be mindful of my Promiſe.

The ſame Man that had carried me thither, waited for me with his Aſs to carry me home again; fo I mounted the Aſs and went ſtraight home; ordering the Man to come to me again in the Afternoon at a certain Hour, to ſecure which, I would not pay him till that time came.

As ſoon as I arrived at my Lodging, my firſt Care was to order my Folks to buy a good Lamb, and ſeveral ſorts of Cakes, which I ſent by a Porter as a Preſent to the Lady. When that was done, I minded my ſerious Affairs till the Owner of the Aſs came. Then I went along with him to the Lady’s Houſe, and was receiv’d by her with as much Joy as before, and entertain’d with equal Magnificence.

Next Morning I took leave, and left her another Purſe with Fifty Pieces of Gold: But Scheherazade perceiving Day, gave Notice of it to the Sultan, who thereupon roſe without ſaying one Word, Next Night ſhe went on with her Story as follows.

The Hundred and Thirty Seventh Night.

SIR, the Young Man of Bagdad, continued the Chriftian Merchant to the Sultan of Caſgar, went on to this Purpoſe. I continued, ſaid he, to viſit the Lady every Day, and to leave her every time a Purſe with Fifty Pieces of Gold, till the Merchants, whom I employed to ſell my Cloath, and whom I viſited regularly twice a Week: I continued theſe chargeable Viſits, I ſay, till the Merchants owed me nothing. And in ſhort, I came at laſt to be Monyleſs and hopeleſs of having any more.

In this deſperate Condition I walked out of my Lodging, not knowing what Courſe to take; and by chance ſteered towards the Caſtle, where there was a great Crowd of People to ſee the Sultan of Egypt. As ſoon as I came up to them, I wedged in among the Crowd; and by chance happened to ſtand by a Cavalier well mounted, and handſomely cloathed, who had upon the Bow of his Saddle a Bag half open, with a String of Green Silk hanging out of it. I clapp’d my Hand to the Bag, concluding the Silk Twiſt might be the String of a Purſe within the Bag: In the mean time a Porter with a Load of Wood upon his Back paſſed by the other ſide of the Horſe fo near, that the Gentleman on Horſeback was forced to turn his Head towards him, to avoid the being rubb’d by the Wood. In that very Minute did the Devil tempt me; I took the String in one Hand, and with the other laid open the Mouth of the Bag, and fo pull’d out the Purſe ſo dextrouſly that no Body perceived it. The Purſe was heavy, and fo I did not doubt but there was Gold or Silver in it.

As ſoon as the Porter had paſs’d the Cavalier, who probably had ſome ſuſpicion of what I had done while his Head was turned, preſently put his Hand to his Bag, and, finding his Purſe was gone, gave me ſuch a Blow, that he knocked me down. This Violence ſhocked all that ſaw it, ſome took hold of the Horſe’s Bridle to ſtop the Gentleman, and know of him what Reaſon he had to beat me, or how he came to treat a Muſſelman after that Rate. Do not trouble your ſelves, ſaid he with a brisk Tone, I had Reaſon enough for what I did; this Fellow is a Thief. In fine, every one took my Part, and cried he was a Liar, for that it was incredible, a young Man, ſuch as I, ſhould be guilty of ſo foul an Action; but while they were holding his Horſe by the Bridle to favour my Eſcape, unfortunately came by the Juſticiary Judge, who, ſeeing ſuch a Crowd about the Gentleman on Horſeback and me, came up and asked what the matter was. Every Body there reflected on the Gentieman for treating me ſo unjuſtly upon the Pretence of Robbery.

The Judge did not give Ear to all that was ſaid on my Behalf; but asked the Cavalier if he ſuſpeced any body elſe beſides me. The Cavalier told him he did not, and gave his Reaſons why he believed his ſuſpicion not to be groundleſs. Upon this the Judge order’d his Followers to ſeize me, and ſearch me, which they preſently did, and finding the Purſe about me, expoſed it to the View of all the People. The Shame was ſo great I could not bear it, but I ſwooned away. In the mean time the Judge called tor the Purſe.

But I ſee, ſaid Scheherazade, it is Day; if your Majeſty will let me live till to Morrow, you ſhall hear the ſequel of the Story. Then Schahriar got up, deſigning to gratify his Curioſity by hearing the reſt next Night.

The Hundred and Thirty Eight Night.

TOwards the cloſe of the next Night, the Sultaneſs addreſſed Schahriar thus. Sir, the young Man of Bagdad purſuing his Story: When the Judge, ſaid he, had got the Purſe in his Hand, he asked the Horſeman if it was his, and how much Money was in it. The Cavalier knew it to be his own, and aſſured the Judge he had put Twenty Sequins into it. Upon that the Judge called me before him; Come Young Man, ſaid he, confeſs the Truth, Was it you that took the Gentleman’s Purſe from him? Do not put your ſelf to the Trouble of Torture to extort Confeſſion. Then I looked down with my Eyes, thinking within my ſelf, that if I denied the Fact, they finding the Purſe about me would convict me of a Lye; ſo, to avoid a double Puniſhment, I look’d up and confeſs’d it was I. That no ſooner made the Confeſſion, than the Judge call’d People to witneſs it, and order’d my Hand to be cut of. This hard Sentence was put in Execution immetiately upon the Spot, to the great Regret of all the Spectators; nay, I obſerv’d by the Cavalier’s Countenance that he was moved with Pity as much as the reſt. The Judge would likewiſe have order’d my Foot to be cut off, but I beg’d the Cavalier to intercede for my Pardon, which he did, and obtain’d it.

When the Judge was gone, the Cavalier came up to me, and ho’ding out the Purſe, I ſee plainly, ſaid he, that ’twas Neceſlity put you upon an Action ſo diſgraceful and unworthy of ſuch a handſome young Man as you are. Here take that fatal Purſe, I freely give it you, and am Heartily ſorry for the Misfortune you have undergone. This ſaid, he went away; and, I being very weak by reaſon of my loſs of Blood, ſome of the good People that lived that way, had the Charity to carry me into one of their Houſes, and give me a Glaſs of Wine, they likewiſe dreſled my Arm, and wrapp’d up the diſmember’d Hand in a Cloath.

If I had return’d to the Khan where I lodged, I ſhould not have found there ſuch Relief as I wanted; and to offer to go to the young Lady’s, was running a great Hazard, it being likely ſhe wou’d not look upon me after ſuch an infamous Thing had befallen me. However, I reſolved to put it to the Trial; and, to tire out the Crowd that followed me, I turned down ſeveral By Streets, and at laſt arriv’d at my Lady’s very weak, and ſo much fatigu’d, that I preſently threw my ſelf down upon a Sofa, keeping my Right Arm under my Coat, for I took great care to conceal my Misfortune.

In the mean time, the Lady hearing of my Arrival, and that I was not well, came to me in all haſte; My dear Soul, ſaid ſhe, what’s the matter with you? Madam, ſaid I, I have got a violent Pain in my Head. The Lady ſeem’d to be mightily afflicted with my pretended Illneſs, and asked me to ſit down, for I had got up to receive her. Tell me, ſaid ſhe, how your Illneſs came: The laſt time I had the Pleaſure to ſee you, you were very well. There muſt be ſomething elſe that you conceal from me, prithee let me know what it is. I ſtood filent, and, inſtead of an Anſwer, Tears trickled down my Cheeks. I can’t conceive, ſaid ſhe, what it is that afflicts you. Have I given you any Occaſion to be uneaſy? Or do you come on purpoſe to tell me you do not love me. ’Tis not that, Madam, ſaid I, fetching a deep ſigh; your unjuſt ſuſpicion is an addition to my Evil.

I could not think of diſcovering to her the true Cauſe. When Night came, Supper was brought, and ſhe preſs’d me to eat, but conſidering I could only feed my ſelf with my Left Hand, I begg’d to be excus’d upon the Plea of having no Stomach. Your Stomach will come to you, ſaid ſhe, if you would but diſcover what you ſo obſtinately hide from me. Your Inappetency without doubt, is only owing to the Ayerſion you have to a Diſcovery. Alas! Madam, ſaid I, I find I muſt diſcover at laſt. I had no ſooner ſpoke theſe Words, than ſhe filled me a Cup full of Wine; Drink ſaid ſhe, ’twill give you Aſſurance. So I reach’d out my Left Hand and took the Cup.

Here the Appearance of Day diſcontinued Scheherazade’s Story,bur the next Night ſhe purſued the ſequel thus.

The hundred and Thirty Ninth Night.

WHen I had got the Cup in my Hand, ſaid the young Man, I redoubled my Tears and Sighs. Why do you figh and cry fo bitterly? ſaid the Lady, And why do you take the Cup with your Left Hand, rather than your Right? Ah! Madam, ſaid I, excuſe me, I beſeech you; I have got a Swelling in my Right Hand. Let me ſee that Swelling, ſaid ſhe, I’ll open it. I defired to be excuſed upon that Head, aledging the Tumor was not ripe enough for opening; and drank the Cupful, which was very large. In fine, the Streams of the Wine; joined to my weakneſs and wearine’s, ſet me aſleep, and I ’lept very Sound till next Morning.

In the meantime, the Lady, curious to know what Ailment I had in my Right Hand, lifted my Coat that covered it; and ’aw to her great Aſtoniſhment that it was cut off, and that I had brought it along with me wrapp’d up in a Cloath, She preſently apprehended what was my Reaſon for declining a Diſcovery, notwithſtanding all the preſſing Inſtances ſhe made; and paſſed the whole Night in the greateſt Uneafineſs upon my Diſgrace, which ſhe concluded had been occafion’d by the Love I bore to her.

When I walked,I diſcerned by her Countenance,that ſhe was extremely grieved. However, that ſhe might not increaſe my Uneaſineſs, ſhe ſaid ne’er a Word. She call’d for Jelly Broth of Fowl, which ſhe order’d to be got ready, and made me eat and drink to recruit my Strength. After that I offer’d to take leave of her, but ſhe declar’d I ſhould not go out of her Doors: Though you tell me nothing of the matter ſaid ſhe, I am the Cauſe of the Misfortune that is befallen you. The Grief that I feel upon that ſcore will quickly make an end of me; but, before I die, I muſt do one Thing, that is deſigned for our Advantage. She had no ſooner ſaid the Word, than ſhe called for a publick Notary and Witneſſes, and ordered a Writing to be drawn up, intruſting me to her whole Eſtate. After this was done, and the Men diſpatch’d, ſhe open’d a large Trunk, where lay all the Purſes I had given her, from the Commencement of our Amours. There are they all entire, ſaid ſhe, I have not touch’d one of them: Here, take the Key, the Trunk is yours. After I had returned her Thanks for her Generoſity and Bounty; What I do for you, ſaid ſhe, is nothing at all; I ſhall not be ſatisfied unleſs I die, to ſhew how much I love you. I conjur’d her by all the Powers of Love, not to drop ſuch a fatal Reſolution. But all my Remonſtrances were ineffectual; ſhe was ſo afflicted, to ſee me have but one Hand, that ſhe fickned, and died after five or ſix Weeks Illneſs.

After mourning for her Death as long as was decent, I ſtook Poſſeſſion of all her Eſtate, a particular Account of which ſhe gave me before ſhe died; and the Corn you ſold for me was part of it,

The Appearance of Day interrupted Scheherazade, ſhe diſcontinued her Story till next Night, that ſhe went on as follows.

The Hundred and Fortieth Night.

THE Young Man of Bagdad concluded his Story to the Chriſtian Merchant to this Purpoſe. What I have now told you, ſaid he, will influence you. to excuſe me for eating with my Left Hand. I am mightily oblig’d to you for the Trouble you have given your ſelf on my Account. I can never make ſufficient Acknowledgment of your Fidelity, Since God has ſtill given me a complete Eſtate, notwithſtanding I have ſpent a great deal, I beg you to accept of the Sum now in your Hand as a Preſent from me. Over and above this, I have a Propoſal to make to you, which is this, For as much as, by reaſon of this fatal Accident, I am obliged to depart Cairo, I am reſolved never to ſee it more: So if you’ll pleaſe to accompany me, we’ll trade together as equal Partners; and divide the Profit.

I thank’d the Young Man, ſaid the Chriſtian Merchant, for the Preſent he made me, and as to the Propoſal of travelling with him, I willingly embrac’d it, affuring him that his Intereſt ſhould always be as dear to me as my own.

We ſet a Day for our Departure, and accordingly entred upon our Travels. We paſſed through Syria and Meſopotamia, travell’d all over Perſia, and after ſtopping at ſeveral Cities, came at laſt, Sir, to this your Metropolis. Some time after our Arrival in this Place, the young Man having form’d a Deſign of returning to Perſia, and ſettling there, we ſettled our Accounts, and parted very good Friends. So he went from hence, and I, Sir, continue here at your Majeſty’s Service. This, Sir, is the Story I had to tell you: Does not your Majeſty find it yer more ſurprizing, than that of the crooked Buffoon?

The Sultan of Caſgar fell into a Paſſion againſt the Chriſtian Merchant. You are very bold, ſaid he, to tell me a ſtory ſo little worth my hearing, and then to compare it to that of my Jeſter. Can you flatter your ſelf ſo far, as to believe that the trifling Adventures of a young Rake can make ſuch an Impreſſion upon me, as thoſe of my Jeſter? Well, I’m reſolv’d to hang you all four to revenge his Death.

This ſaid, the Purveyor fell down frighted at the Sultan’s Feet. Sir, ſaid he, I humbly beſeech your Majeſty to ſuſpend your juſt Wrath, and hear my Story; and if my Story appears to your Majeſty to be prettier than that of your Jeſter to pardon us all four. The Sultan having granted his Requeſt, the Purveyor began thus.

1. A Bezeſtein is a publick place where ſilk Stuffs, and other precious Things are expoſed to Sale.